Despite his many controversial comments and lack of political acuteness, reality television star Donald Trump has surprisingly maintained a significant lead over the 16 other Republican contenders running in the 2016 presidential election. His campaign has also proven that Republican voters are sick of politics as usual.

As a result, it appears that the only other candidate that has a chance of beating Trump at the moment is Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who is far from the political establishment.

Like Trump, who is a noted real estate mogul, the neurosurgeon has found success in a career outside of politics. In 1987, at the age of 36, he became the first surgeon to separate Siamese twins. He also claims to be the only person to have operated on babies while they were still in their mother's womb.

Plus, he also gained political notoriety, like Trump, for calling out President Barack Obama at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast. Trump, on the other hand, won over far right Republicans by leading the birther movement.

At the beginning of the 2016 race, Carson was fifth in an average of national polls and fourth in Iowa, according to Real Clear Politics, reports the Business Insider. However, now it looks like he may be the only GOP contender who could actually give Trump a run for his money.

For the first time in quiet some time, a poll of Iowa on Monday showed Trump was not in the lead, but rather tied with Carson, and that both candidates garnered almost half of the Iowa Republican vote.

Another national poll released on Thursday revealed that the doctor was by far the strongest contender to Trump and the only candidate with a higher image rating than Trump. The survey also found that Republican voters would prefer Carson to Trump by a 19-point margin if they were the two faced off in the primary.

"The fact that the only one who can challenge Trump is the only other candidate who has never held or run for elected office speaks volumes to the low regard GOP voters have for the establishment," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, which released Thursday's national poll.

In response, Carson's campaign says that it thanks Trump.

"There's no question that the attention that Donald Trump has brought to himself and the campaign has worked in our favor," Doug Watts, the communications director of Carson's campaign, told Business Insider.

"Why does it work in our favor and not everybody else's favor?" Watts continued. "I think the answer's pretty clear: That not since 1992 has America - Republicans, Democrats, Independents - been so keen on not electing, reelecting, traditional lifetime politicians. They're just sick and tired of it. The ol' Einstein quote, which wasn't actually from Einstein: 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.'"

Carson's advisers added that his nice persona, quiet demeanor and outsider status give him an advantage.

"GOP primary voters have yet to show much appetite for or excitement about their establishment candidates, instead rallying behind 'damn the system' candidates," said veteran Democratic strategist Ben LaBolt. "The rise of Carson and Trump suggests Bush, Rubio, et al. face a much steeper path than anticipated."