As Ben Carson slid down the polls after cresting around Halloween, firms closely connected with his campaign advisors and consultants hauled in millions of dollars in Carson’s campaign funds.
That state of affairs raised eyebrows and may have contributed to a major top-level staff shakeup at the end of last year. Now even Carson himself admits his moribund campaign has had the appearance of a big scam.
During an appearance on “CNN Newsroom” yesterday, Carson, referring to the propensity of his staffers to raise and spend huge sums of money, laughed and said, “We had people who didn’t really seem to understand finances… or maybe they did — maybe they were doing it on purpose.”
The profligacy of Carson’s campaign stands in sharp contrast to the discussion of fiscal responsibility on his website, which says, “The fiscal irresponsibility of our federal government must stop. We cannot go on mortgaging our future to wasteful spending and pretend that nothing is wrong.”
“I will institute fiscal discipline in Washington in order to restore a bright future for our children and grandchildren,” Carson’s “Prescription for a Responsible and Efficient Government” adds.
That gravy train might be coming to an end soon, however. Excluding super PACs, Carson’s campaign has raised more money than any of the other GOP contenders, but he had only $4.1 million left at the end of last month. Combine that with a string of disappointing finishes, including a fourth-place showing during last night’s Republican caucus in Nevada, and it appears the retired neurosurgeon might not be much longer for this presidential cycle.
Original Article
Source: thinkprogress.org/
Author: Aaron Rupar
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