Richard Dawkins explains why he's backing Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson

Dawkins suggests he is the lesser of two evils

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Richard Dawkins has voiced his support for Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson.

The writer and biologist’s endorsement may sound surprising, however, as he has previously called the American neurosurgeon a “disgrace” for denying the existence of evolution despite having a prolific career in the field of medicine.

But thankfully his support is merely a tactic.

Dawkins suggested on Twitter that it could be beneficial lending his support to Carson so he could inevitably lose to a Democratic president further on in the election.

“Is it naive to say the more absurd the Republican candidate the better chance of Democrat victory? Support Carson for “G”OP candidate?” he said.

Dawkins has been critical of Carson in the past.

In an interview with CNN he said it was a “disgrace” that Carson did not believe in evolution.

“For a very senior eminent distinguished doctor as he [Carson] is to say that is even worse. Because of course, evolution is the bedrock of biology and biology is the bedrock of medicine.

"He clearly doesn’t understand the fundamental theorem of his own subject. That is a terrible indictment."

He added: “It is a form of arrogance to say we know what God does."

“The only way to know anything is by looking at the evidence. In this particular case, the evidence is overwhelming… In the case of evolution, there is no doubt. It is a fact.”

His comments came after Carson stood by his belief that the Egyptian pyramids were actually use to store grain rather than for placing dead pharoes in.