US President-elect Donald Trump has named Ben Carson, his former rival for the Republican nomination, as secretary of housing and urban development.
“Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities”, the president-elect said in a statement, adding that the two had discussed his “urban renewal agenda”.
I like Carson and there is no doubting his brilliance, but he sure has been flaky. He doesn’t have any experience running a large organization and I’m not aware of any experience in the policy issues under HUD’s responsibility. This appears to be finding the best place for Trump to put a supporter where he can do as little damage as possible.
by Owen | 1121, 11 Mar 1616 | Politics | 1 Comment
Disappointing, but not surprising. We knew that Trump and Carson were acquainted in their personal lives. Carson’s endorsement of Trump confirms that he does not have the judgment to be president and the voters wisely withheld their support from him.
Palm Beach, Florida (CNN)Ben Carson threw his support behind Donald Trump Friday morning, saying the two men had “buried the hatchet” and praising the Republican Party’s front-runner as a “the voice of the people to be heard.”
According to a survey of likely Republican Iowa caucusgoers from Monmouth University, Ben Carson is tied with Mr. Trump in Iowa. The poll marks the first time in more than a month that the billionaire tycoon was not leading a poll in one of the first four states to hold nominating contests.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Carson were deadlocked with the support of 23 percent of the Iowans who were polled. Carly Fiorina, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin made up the next tier of candidates.
The poll shows the growing appetite for political outsiders in Iowa and could spell trouble for more traditional candidates who were counting on the state to propel them to the nomination. Mr. Walker has seen his prospects in Iowa dampen substantially in recent weeks and candidates such as former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who were once favorites in the state, are barely registering with voters.
