Posted on 01/22/2016 10:25:34 AM PST by GonzoII
Ben Carson's former chief of staff is now advising Donald Trump's presidential campaign, less than one month after quitting his post.The Washington Post reported the informal arrangement between Barry Bennett and the Trump campaign, which Trump chief of staff Corey Lewandowski confirmed to the paper.
"I believe Trump is going to win and it's important that his campaign is ready for everything that is coming," Bennett told the Post.
"I'm here to do what is needed. I'm not being paid and I'm going to be mostly focused on getting my business back up and running."
He added that he spoke to campaign representatives with rivals Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz, but ultimately settled on Trump.
Bennett quit with a handful of staffers en masse on New Year's Eve, including communications director Doug Watts.
He later cited significant disagreements with longtime Carson confidant Armstrong Williams, who doesn't have an official role with the campaign but is one of the candidate's most trusted advisers.
Williams bashed Bennett and Watts in a Facebook post Friday morning for his "unmitigated gall" in moving to the Trump campaign, as well as for his comments to the media.
"To attempt to curry favor with the Trump campaign by delivering Dr. Carson's campaign infrastructure on a platter is nothing short of amazing," Williams wrote.
"Watts and Bennett did a great service is helping to guide his campaign -- a service for which they were amply compensated. But they do an equally great disservice by holding lectures, going in front of the media and betraying Carson in an attempt to curry favor with Trump," he said.
Carson briefly rose to the top of the polls and challenged Trump for the top spot both nationally and in Iowa. But he soon fell out of the top tier in large part due to concerns about his grasp on foreign policy, and reports have claimed his once prolific fundraising has taken a significant hit.
I guess it can't hurt, may pick up a few votes.
Go Trump!
Interesting. Is Cruz picking up anyone from that camp?
Gotta pay the bills.
Professional political class goes where the money is.
Psst, Williams, you weren't told the part that he's doing it for free, right? I assume that since you didn't spontaneously explode, that was the case..
Now, here's the real question: Why didn't Jeb pay out?
Don’t know, but Trump got a someone from Cruz camp just yesterday or the day before.
Professional political class goes where the money is.
From the article: "I'm here to do what is needed. I'm not being paid and I'm going to be mostly focused on getting my business back up and running."
That said, he did try the Jeb and Cruz campaigns first.
BTW: I think I read or saw some commentary that Trump isn't going to be picking any GOP Senators for cabinet positions. That he'll Need them in the Senate
. It was the day Sarah announced her backing for Trump but I can't find the source .... Anybody confirm and help me source this?
You must have overlooked this line
“I’m here to do what is needed. I’m not being paid and I’m going to be mostly focused on getting my business back up and running.”
No.
That validates my comment.
Dr. Carson’s campaign infrastructure?
LOL
Really.
Interesting.
Maybe Carson’s buddies The ‘Reverend’ Sharpton or the ‘Minister’ Farakhan....
I really believe Carson is a good person at heart, not a Presidential material at this time, but a very good person at heart, and I'm sure Trump has a position in his cabinet for him...
God Bless those that were hurt and God Bless the family that lost their son...Amen...
Doubt it. Carson was mimicking Trump when he did speak.
Carson should volunteer at Veteran Hospitals.
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