Carson to shake up campaign staff amid falling poll numbers

In interviews conducted at his Maryland home, the fading presidential candidate told the Associated Press and the Washington Post that he was dissatisfied with the state of his campaign, and that “personnel changes” may be coming. Everything is on the table, every job is on the table.

“The key word there is ‘may.’ We’re always going to be looking at it. We’re always going to be evaluating how people are performing” he told Lemon.

Carson said he and Bennett are “absolutely” on good terms, and he lauded his top advisers, saying there aren’t many “senior teams that could have done what this team has done starting from scratch with an outsider”.

Carson said the rough-and-tumble nature of the 2016 race has not outweighed his favorite campaign moments.

Carson said a retooled campaign will not involve personal attacks on his Republican rivals, though he said he will look to place greater emphasis on their differences in policy and experience.

Carson later told CNN in a statement released by his campaign that he is “refining some operational practices and streamlining some staff assignments to more aptly match the tasks ahead”. A spokesperson for Carson later downplayed the consultant’s relationship with the campaign. When the AP contacted Bennett for comment, he replied, “I’m getting ready to have a conversation with him”. Bennett has spoken with Carson about the topic, he says, and he “was talking about ideas and tactics, not people”.

The AP reported that Carson raised $31 million in total by the end of September, more than any other Republican candidate, but he’s spending it faster than any other campaign too.

Williams set up the interviews on his own without Bennett’s involvement or knowledge.

Republican Ben Carson’s continual decline in the polls has led to a top-to-bottom review of his campaign. “That is what he said and what he believes”.

“I’m extremely sensitive about budgets, growing up poor”, Carson said. “It’s one of the things we’re looking at: making sure everyone’s salary is in line with the standard”, he said. The paper writes that Carson went on to “grumble” about how some of his aides are paid “five percent above average”.

“Everything. Everything is on the table”, he said of the potential changes. They say if you do this, it’ll be better. Trump is leading the GOP pack with the 39% support.

“I think I have to directly address the issue”, he said.

Turning toward the primary calendar, Carson said Iowa and SC will be his chief focus and that New Hampshire, with its “volatile” dynamic, will be less of a target.

Carson has acknowledged the difficulties on the campaign trail in recent days, even as he dismissed questions about whether his staff was to blame.