MIAMI -- Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson endorsed Donald Trump this morning, calling for the Republican Party to unite behind the New York billionaire.
"I feel that Mr. Trump is willing to do what needs to be done to break the stranglehold of special interest groups and the political class," Carson said.
Carson, who suspended his campaign last week after he said he did not see a path forward to the nomination, said if Trump is stopped by party elites it would "fracture the party irreparably and hand the election to the Democrats."
Carson said Trump is a more “cerebral” and "reasonable" person behind the scenes than his public persona suggests and that the two have mended their relationship since he left the race.
“We buried the hatchet. That was political stuff and that happens in American politics,” Carson said.
Trump said Carson will be “very much involved” in his campaign, particularly on education and health care policy.
"Ben's going to be involved with us in any matter he wants to be but particularly on those two subjects," Trump said.
Carson said the two have not discussed specific posts for him a potential Trump administration.
Commenting on his more subdued and measured tone in last night's more civil Republican debate, Trump told reporters at a press conference in Palm Beach that he was just rolling with the punches.
"I didn't go there as a toned-down person," he said. "If I was hit I would have hit back."
Trump reiterated that he is tired of Republican debates. The GOP held its twelfth match-up yesterday and there's another scheduled for March 21.
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