Internal politics already an issue in Ben Carson’s confirmation prep

The Plan is pretty simple: respond to the criticism that Housing and Urban Development nominee Dr. Ben Carson lacks expertise by inundating him with housing policy in marathon briefing sessions, frame him as a doer from an inner-city with leadership experience, and embark on a listening tour across America after his confirmation.

But, so far, the process to prepare Carson for confirmation hearings next year has instead been preoccupied with internal politics, three sources said. Some Carson allies and people on the Trump transition team have concerns about the involved role of retired Major Gen. Robert Dees, who served as Carson’s campaign chair.

Throughout the Republican primary, Carson had a tight group of advisers — most prominently, Armstrong Williams — and influence with and proximity to Carson seem likely to be hotly contested. One source was led to believe that Dees was poised to become Carson’s chief of staff; another vehemently denied that. “Dees,” a source close to Carson said, “is coordinating everything.” An effort to reach Dees through a spokesperson was unsuccessful.

Confirming Carson, a popular figure within the Republican Party but one prone to at times highly unusual interviews, could prove one of the trickier nomination efforts, along with Rex Tillerson at the State Department. Democrats have been highly critical — Sen. Jeff Merkley said he was “deeply concerned” by the Carson pick — and if Carson were to have a difficult hearing, the unlikely possibility that a few Republicans might vote against him could become less unlikely.