Ben Carson has fixed his “dysfunctional” campaign, he said on Sunday, adding that firing much of his campaign staff illustrated his credentials for the presidency.
“A couple of months ago, I was being told that everything was wonderful with the campaign. I didn’t believe it, so I began to do my own personal investigation,” he told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo.
“I found a lot of things that were inappropriate,” he added. “You’ll notice that since that time, we’ve put out tons of policy. We could never get any policy out before that, because we had a dysfunctional organization that was bloated, where we had a lot of people duplicating services.”
After a brief time at the top of the Republican presidential field, Carson’s poll numbers fell precipitously in November. It resulted in the resignation of his campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, and communications director the following month. Carson began firing more than 50 people from his staff Thursday.
Carson said it showed what he would do as president.
“That’s the same kind of attitude I would take as president,” Carson said. “There’s an incredible amount of inefficiency in our government, duplication of services, way too many federal employees, way too many agencies.”
Carson also talked about an apology he received from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during the Feb. 6 presidential debate for Cruz’s campagin falsely telling Iowa caucus goers that Carson had dropped out of the race. He said that he accepted the apology, but that it should be a “moment of enlightenment.”
“Of course I accept the apology,” Carson said. “I think what has to be looked at is, what does this tell you about a person? If they will allow a campaign in which people clearly do things that are underhanded, and if you accept that, what does that say you will do as president?”
“I think it should be a moment of enlightenment for people,” he concluded.
Rumors circulated the day of Iowa’s Feb. 1 caucuses that Carson was dropping out of the presidential race. They were repeated by members of Cruz’s campaign staff and his campaign chairman, Rep. Steve King of Iowa.
“Carson looks like he is out,” King said in a message on Twitter as caucuses were taking place. “Most will go to Cruz, I hope.”
Carson looks like he is out. Iowans need to know before they vote. Most will go to Cruz, I hope. https://t.co/lW5Js50EMA
— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) February 2, 2016
Carson did not drop out of the race. Cruz apologized for his campaign’s actions, though he tried to blame CNN reports for misleading his staff. CNN issued a statement Saturday night saying Cruz was lying.
