Ben Carson calls for emergency meeting of GOP candidates to discuss the 2016 race's 'lack of civility'

Ben Carson hopes to put an end to the petty attacks and "lack of civility" that have come to define the Republican presidential race. The retired neurosurgeon announced Tuesday that he's giving his GOP rivals a call in hopes of setting up a meeting as he fears things "take a turn for the worse."

"The American people deserve so much from the candidates who are seeking the most powerful position in the free world, and I share their concern that this race has taken a turn for the worse, to the point of embarrassment on the world stage," Carson said in a statement.

Carson is hoping to squeeze in the meeting between himself, Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Ohio Gov. John Kasich ahead of the Thursday debate in Flint, Michigan.

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"I am confident that the five remaining candidates can rise above the sophomoric attacks of past encounters and have a serious discussion about substantive issues and how we will lead our nation forward toward a more prosperous and secure future," Carson said.

His call comes as Rubio and Trump's attacks on each other have become increasingly personal.