DENVER – Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who is running for president, will rally with supporters in America the Beautiful Park Thursday at 6 p.m. according to the El Paso County GOP.

Carson came to Colorado Springs almost exactly a year ago to sign copies of his book, but he was on the fence then about a bid for president.

The turnout at that event was apparently impressive enough for Carson to return, now as an official Republican candidate. He also had a strong showing in Denver at the Western Conservative Summit in June. Carson came in first among the 18 GOP candidates that were identified at the time in a straw poll of several hundred attendees.

Congressman Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, will introduce Carson. Bishop Michael Sheridan of the Diocese of Colorado Springs will say the invocation.