Carson loses ground game to Cruz in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The former head of a super PAC supporting Dr. Ben Carson's presidential bid has defected to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the latest in a series of losses for the Carson campaign.

Sam Pimm left his position as the executive director of the 2016 Committee in the fall, promising that he would continue to support Carson. Politico reported Sunday that Pimm reached out to the Cruz campaign promising support for the Texas senator, citing electability concerns about Carson.

Pimm will not take a campaign role, but wishes to be involved with Cruz. The loss of Pimm's support comes after five New Hampshire staffers resigned from the same same PAC, as well as the resignations of some of Carson's top staffers.

"I've always liked and admired Sen. Cruz, it's not a leap of faith for me to start supporting him," Pimm said. "At this point in time, the way the campaign has evolved, he's obviously our best option for a conservative nominee. I've always thought he's a good candidate, a great speaker, quick on his feet. I'm totally in tune with his policy positions. This was not a hard decision for me to make."

Pimm expressed a desire to help Cruz's primary push in New Hampshire, where Pimm has deep ties as the campaign manager for former state Sen. Bob Smith. Cruz is scheduled to be on a swing through the early voting state Tuesday.