Well, this is inderdasting...

While the bulk of the Republican primary so far has been focused on the reality show star who is getting 117% of the earned media attention, Ben Carson has been quietly building his network in Iowa.

And judging by a recent Iowa Caucus poll, it might be paying off...

Although he isn't generating the headlines enjoyed by Trump, Carson has quietly built a dedicated network of supporters in Iowa. During the past month, he also aired more ads than any other presidential candidate in Iowa. Carson has the highest favorability rating among Republican candidates, with 79 percent of likely GOP caucus-goers seeing him positively.

Those glowing views of Carson, who has a compelling life story and is seeking to become the nation's second black president, could make it hard for Trump or other rivals to attack him as the campaign heats up this fall. Christian conservatives, who represent nearly 40 percent of likely caucus participants in the poll, may be starting to coalesce around the former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins.

Ben Carson is still considered a long shot by many, but really, at this point who isn't a long shot? And also, I know what most of you are thinking...

No WAY a black guy could win Iowa caucus!! Oh, wait... https://t.co/00C3P61tJi

— Robert A George (@RobGeorge) August 30, 2015

I guess that "silent majority" that Trump keeps talking about is starting to "speak" in Iowa. They just may not exactly be saying the things he expected. Hold onto your butts...