Carson: GOP delegate process ‘stinks’

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Ben Carson said he thinks the GOP nominating process “stinks,” criticizing the behind-the-scenes jockeying for delegates and floating the possibility that Donald Trump would change the rules if he becomes the party’s nominee.  

{mosads}Carson praised Trump’s newest hire, convention manager Paul Manafort, for having a mastery of what’s needed to capture and keep delegates. But he criticized the process during a small meeting with reporters after his presentation on Trump’s behalf to delegates at the Republican National Committee’s spring meeting. 

“I wish we didn’t have this stuff going on, quite frankly — I think it stinks and it is manipulative. But as some have said, it’s our system, it’s what we have. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t make it better,” Carson said.

Carson added that he wants to see consistency across the states, noting that “the only reason you would want to [see a lack consistency] is if you want to manipulate the system.”

When asked if Trump was committed to changing those rules if he becomes the nominee, Carson said, “I think so.” 

Trump has repeatedly assailed the delegate process, which has cost him the loyalties of many delegates bound to him through the primary process. While Trump has a substantial lead in the bound delegate count, his opponents — mainly Ted Cruz — have angled to pick up unbound delegates or even win the loyalties of those bound to Trump only on early ballots.

The Republican National Conention is in Cleveland from July 18 to 21.