Ex-Carson campaign manager moves to Donald Trump camp

Ben Carson's former campaign manager, Barry Bennett, is now serving as an informal adviser to current GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.

Bennett, who left the former neurosurgeon's White House campaign last month with two other top aides, confirmed the position with the Trump campaign to CBS News.

"It's all informal," Bennett told CBS in a phone interview. "I, like even more and more people everyday, believe that Donald Trump is going to be the nominee and I've been talking to them about some of the things that they need to do, some of the new problems that will be coming their way as they become the nominee."

The longtime Republican strategist said that his talk with the Trump campaign has been limited to "what happens once you're the apparent nominee."

"They're not asking me for any strategic advice on how to win the primaries nor do they need any advice from me," he said.

Bennett cited his "good relationship" with Trump's own campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, as one reason he is currently working to ensure the billionaire's election.

The ex-Carson staffer has known Lewandowski for years -- and, Bennett said, the two have talked about "debates and everything" throughout the entire presidential campaign cycle.

In the run-up to the first nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, Ben Carson's position in the polls have slipped. Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, meanwhile, are locked in a dead heat, according to recent Iowa surveys.

CBS News' Erica Brown and Sopan Deb contributed to this report.