Cruz raises nearly $20 million over last 3 months of 2015

Campaign manager Barry Bennett and Communications Director Doug Watts “have resigned from the Carson campaign effective immediately”.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson led the Republican field in fundraising last quarter, raking in $20.8 million. Ed Brookover, formerly a senior strategist, will serve as campaign manager.

Jennifer Jacobs of the Des Moines Register says she’s hearing that the two left because of Carson’s relationship with Armstrong Williams, who sometimes appears on TV speaking for Ben Carson, but who Ben Carson says “does not speak for me”.

The New Years Eve shakeup is not surprising: Speaking to the Associated Press before Christmas, Carson expressed frustration at his slide in the polls and hinted that he might make staffing changes. I’ve never seen him more relaxed, more authoritarian and more in control.

“Sometimes people associate soft-spokenness with not the kind of leadership we need from someone in times of war”.

A source familiar with the internal workings of the campaign blamed acrimony within the campaign on Carson’s close confidante, Armstrong Williams. “It’s not ideal, and we’re going to work on it”.

In an off-air interview with CNN, Williams said he never discussed the personnel moves with Carson.

“I don’t know who all will still be here, it’s not my problem” Bennett said. “Showing on CBS “Face the Nation”, Carson stated last Sun. the one major alter in his marketing crusade strategy can be taking a way more aggressive approach in the direction of assaults – one thing he has refused to take action far throughout his marketing campaign”.

But while Cruz is surging and gaining an increasing amount of attention, his fourth-quarter fundraising total still fell below Ben Carson’s $23 million haul over the same three-month window.

The resignations of Bennett and Watts come on the heels of recent indications that Carson was considering shaking up his campaign staff.

“I’ve spoken with the good general, congratulated him”, Williams said.