Carson outpaces Cruz with $23 million fundraising haul
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is outstripping rival Ted Cruz in fourth quarter fundraising totals, bringing in at least $23 million in the last weeks of 2015.
The amount, confirmed by Carson campaign spokesperson Doug Watts to CBS News, comes shortly after the disclosure of Cruz's fundraising spike of $20 million.
The numbers reported by Cruz and Carson are still just ballpark estimates: The exact amount won't be made available until next month, when Federal Elections Commission reports are filed. Carson and Cruz have been the only two Republican contenders to disclose their fundraising totals.
Carson led the GOP field in the third quarter, bringing $20.2 million into his campaign coffers. He outstripped by millions his closest rivals Jeb Bush ($13.4 milion) and Ted Cruz (12.2 million).
Carson's fourth-quarter fundraising total comes just as the doctor's campaign has seen his support slipping in national and early-voting state polls in recent weeks.
CBS News' Erica Brown contributed to this report.