In an interview Monday, Terry Giles — the 66-year-old businessman who would serve as Carson’s campaign chairman if he decides to run — said the campaign operation would likely be based in Bethesda, Md.

“As you know, he has lived a long time in Maryland and that’s what people associate him with,” Giles said.

Carson — the former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital — acknowledges he is thinking about running as a Republican but hasn’t officially announced his intentions yet.

“I think the odds are definitely in favor of Ben making the decision to run,” Giles, a longtime friend of Carson’s, predicted Monday. “He doesn’t need to make that decision yet. But he’s asked me to get involved in the campaign if he does run.”