FIRST ON 3: Ben Carson to hold fundraiser in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Have a few hundred or a few thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket? If so, you can meet a presidential candidate in Wilmington next month.

According to his campaign website, Republican Ben Carson will hold a private fundraiser in the Port City.

The January 8 event is set for the home of Jimmy and Libby Neil along the Intracoastal Waterway near Wrightsville Beach.

“A mass e-mail went out to donors yesterday, and my phone started blowing up,” Neil told WWAY when reached by phone this afternoon.

Neil said he expects about 100 people to attend Carson’s visit. You can attend as a guest for $250, but it costs $1,000 to be a VIP and $2,700 to serve as a host.

The event starts with a 45-minute VIP reception and photo opportunity with Carson followed by a general reception. Neil said it will not be open to news media.

A big question, though, is whether Carson will still be a Republican by the time the event rolls around. Today the retired neurosurgeon threatened to leave the party amid reports GOP leaders discussed the possibility of a “brokered” Republican National Convention this summer to pick the party’s nominee due to a splintered electorate and the growing strength of Donald Trump.