Ben Carson Pre-Game: 'Doctors Do Know About Economics'

A cool and confident Ben Carson says he welcomes the chance to prove during the third debate of GOP presidential candidates that "doctors actually do know something about economics."

At the University of Colorado Boulder, where the CNBC-sponsored debate is set, the retired pediatric neurosurgeon conceded some people might think economic policy isn't his strong point, The Hill reports. 

"You guys may not think it's in my wheelhouse. I guess we'll see," Carson said, the Hill reported.

Asked about his goal for debate night, he added: "Give the American people an opportunity to know more about me and find out that doctors actually do know something about economics."

The debate comes just a day after a national poll showed him, for the first time, nudging real estate billionaire Donald Trump out of the lead in the GOP presidential primary field. 

But Carson says his surging campaign won't prompt him to attack any of the eight other candidates on the debate stage.

"My strategy will be to be me," he said, The Hill reports. "I don't get into the mud pit."

Asked about Trump's questioning his religion as a Seventh-day Adventist, Carson said he "never really asked for an apology from him."

Carson declared if there's any attacks aimed his way at the debate, he'll "respond the same way I would respond to anybody's attack, and that's to say, 'Maybe we would be wise to devote our time to actually answering the questions about the issues and not attacking each other.'"

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