Get a Sneak Peek Inside Ben Carson's Campaign Bus
— -- ABC News has gotten exclusive behind the scenes access to Dr. Ben Carson’s campaign bus, also known as the “Healer Hauler”.
Traveling with Carson is his wife, Candy and a small cadre of trusted advisers.
7 a.m., Dayton, Ohio -- The lead of Carson's advance team, Will Russell, brings breakfast on board for Carson and his wife. “We had some eggs and muffins and some fruit," Carson said. "It was quite delectable."
Carson admits it’s hard to stay healthy while on the road, but he tries. “I always say if everybody ate three well-balanced meals a day, drank 6 to 8 glasses of water, got regular exercise and sleep and didn’t put harmful substances in their bodies, most people in medicine would be out of a job,” he joked.
They ate in the back of the bus for about a half hour and then Carson joined me and his aides in the front of the bus to do some radio interviews over the phone as we travel from stop to stop. He is constantly on the phone, his aides by his side.
This is how the bus rides work:
Carson begins with a strategy meeting in the back of the bus with his aides. They go through the schedule, discuss the talking points he may want to make at different stops, make sure he knows the details he wants to address and that he understands the logistics of how the schedule is going to unfold.
Secondly, Carson and his aides discuss the radio and newspaper interviews that he does during the ride. Communications Director Doug Watts gives him some background on who the interviewer or radio host is so that Dr. Carson feels comfortable, and then they discuss many different issues.
9:15 a.m., Findlay, Ohio -- This morning on the bus they discussed Carson’s controversial comments on Muslims and how voters are responding to it. We made an unscheduled stop in at a family restaurant called The Pilgrim. We were greeted by large crowds, and the presidential hopeful hopped in the bed of a red pickup truck where he touched on the Muslim comments.
Back on the bus, and off to Jackson, Michigan for the big rally.
11:40 a.m. -- We stopped at a Panera for lunch. Carson had a turkey sandwich while his wife ate salad. The rest of us scarfed down sandwiches. Then, on the road again to the rally.
12:30 p.m. Jackson, Michigan -- This is Dr. Carson’s first time back to his home state of Michigan since he announced his candidacy for president.
“We are unique in that there is something known as the American way, the American dream. No other country has anything like that. Why in the world do we want to give away all of our values for the sake of political correctness?” questioned Carson. “I think that would be the biggest mistake we ever make.”
The crowd applauded this statement, which made Carson’s campaign advisers happy. The strategy is to keep talking about it.
After Dr. Carson takes selfies and shakes hands with supporters, we are back on the bus. Next stop, Spring Arbor, Michigan for the big rally.
