THE CANDIDACY IN RETROSPECT:

Ginsberg: So you feel like your standing has gone down a little bit because of the way you project yourself, as opposed to the policies that you've put forward? You've had some missteps on the latter.

Carson: In terms of missteps, I think that people simply can't sometimes understand what I'm talking about. They say, "You couldn't name any coalition members [to counter the Islamic State]." That's absolutely absurd. What I was saying was that it's the wrong question, who's the first person you're going to call. I was setting the stage for what you really needed to do. But everybody said, "Oh, he doesn't know any of those countries down there." That's just craziness. As far as the China thing was concerned, I probably shouldn't have said that. I said that on the basis of what some people in the CIA tell me. And of course, subsequent information came out that there is some Chinese [involvement in Syria]. But they made it seem like I'm saying there are a bunch of Chinese boots on the ground. Well, everybody knows that Chinese have physical characteristics that would make them pretty easy to identify in a setting like that. Give me a break. But they just jump on. That kind of stuff is frustrating. But it's something that I've learned. You continue to learn that everything you say is going to be dissected and used in a negative way, if possible. I'm learning. I wish I didn't have to learn that.

Costa: What are you going to do to improve, in terms of staffing? There are also a lot of reports out there about the amount of money the campaign is spending.

Carson: I'm looking at every aspect of the campaign right now. Everything is on the table, every job is on the table. And we're going to analyze it very carefully. We're working to do that because even though it's not anywhere near as bad as they try to make it out to be, it's not perfect and we're going to work on it.

Costa: Since this may be your low point politically, does [campaign manager] Barry Bennett stay on? Or do you bring in someone from the outside?

Carson: All of these things are on the table for consideration. We will be doing something, there's no question.

Ginsberg: We're about five weeks out from the Iowa caucuses. When are you going to make these changes?

Carson: There will be changes going on, probably before Iowa.

Ginsberg: What about before the new year?

Carson: Let's definitely say before Iowa.

Costa: Why are you going to wait a month?

Carson: It could be tomorrow. I'm just saying it'll be before Iowa.

Ginsberg: What advice are you getting about changing? What do people want you to do?

Carson: They want me to be more bombastic, they want you to attack other people.

Costa: Are you talking about your own confidants?

Carson: [Nods.] They want me to act more like a politician.

Ginsberg: Are you capable of that?

Carson: Sure, I could do it, but that's just not who I am. Why would I try to get elected based on who I'm not? I wouldn't be happy and the people wouldn't be happy. We've seen the results of that situation and we don't need it again.

Ginsberg: Do you regret not making the shift to talking about foreign policy sooner?

Carson: You know, it is what it is. [He pauses, then breaks into a chuckle.]

Costa: If anything sums up this year, it's that sentence.

Ginsberg: But what does that mean? It sounds like someone who is a little resigned to "what it is."

Carson: In retrospect, if you could do everything over, you'd be batting a thousand. But it's not going to happen.

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