Ben Carson closes in on Donald Trump in latest poll

The former neurosurgeon makes significant gains after the first GOP debate

Ben Carson has come within four points of Donald Trump in the latest New York Times/CBS News national poll.

The famed neurosurgeon has become widely popular among evangelic voters on the right, where the unapologetic real-state mogul has lacked support.

"The proportion of Republican voters favoring Mr. Carson rose to 23 percent from 6 percent in the previous CBS News poll, which was taken just before the first televised Republican debate in early August. Over that same period, Mr Trump made modest gains, to 27 percent from 24 percent," the New York Times reported.

The nationwide survey polled voters 9 September through 13 September. The results come just a day before the second Republican debate set to air on CNN Wednesday at 8pm.