BookStore1Sarasota expects big turnout for Ben Carson

As Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson surges in popularity in national polls, the downtown Sarasota store hosting his book signing tomorrow expects as many as 1,000 attendees.

The former neurosurgeon, who sits atop the latest poll from the Wall Street Journal and NBC, will begin signing for roughly an hour and a half around noon, said BookStore1Sarasota Event Manager Elsie Souza. Those who wish to attend must purchase Carson’s “A More Perfect Union."

“We’ve sold may 400 or 450 books,” said Souza, who is coordinating the signing. Though she was not able to say with certainty how many people may attend, she estimated it could be around double that number.

Souza said those who with to attend should begin lining up in front of the book store at 11:30 a.m. The hardcover copy of “A More Perfect Union” is listed for $26.95 on BookStore1Sarasota’s website, while the e-book costs $11.80.

Carson’s visit comes less than three weeks after fellow Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced plans to open his first state office in Sarasota, and picked local GOP Chairman Joe Gruters as his campaign manager in Florida.