Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008    

·David Axelrod was named as senior advisor  and Lisa Brown as Staff Secretary.

·Greg Craig was appointed as White House Counsel, and Christ Lu as Cabinet Secretary.

·Other candidates speculated by U.S. media includes James Steinberg.

President-elect Barack Obama smiles during a meeting in Obama's transition office in Chicago, November 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama announced more White House staff on Wednesday, including his long-time friends.

    "I am pleased to announce these new additions to our team, and I'll be relying on their broad and diverse experience in the months ahead as we work to strengthen our economy, reform Washington, and meet the great challenges of our time," said Obama's transition office in a statement.

    Those who were announced the White House staff after Obama takes office on Jan. 20 included David Axelrod as senior advisor to the president, Lisa Brown as Staff Secretary, Greg Craig as White House Counsel, and Christ Lu as Cabinet Secretary.

    Axelrod, who has been a political consultant for many prominent Democratic politicians and serving as a key strategist during Obama's campaign, was considered having played an important role in Obama's successful election.

    Craig and Brown both have worked for former President Bill Clinton's administration, as a special counsel and Counsel to the vice president, respectively.

    Lu, Obama's Chinese-American classmate in Harvard Law School, has worked for Obama in a number of roles in the past four years.

    Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Obama-Biden Transition Project, managing day-to-day operations of the transition.

    Other candidates are speculated by U.S. media to take key White House posts included James Steinberg, deputy national security advisor in the Clinton's administration who is named to head a national security working group for Obama's transition team.

    Another close foreign policy aide, Susan Rice, assistant secretary of state for African affairs between 1997 and 2001, is considered to work alongside Steinberg.

Former Senate majority leader named as U.S. next health secretary

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tom Daschle, former Senate majority (Democratic) leader during the Clinton's administration, was chosen by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as the next secretary of health and human services, said a TV report on Wednesday.

    Citing three sources, a CNN report said that Daschle has personally showed interest to the job and proposed to report directly to the incoming president after he takes office as the White House health "czar." Full story

Ex deputy attorney general named as Obama's attorney general

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- An ex deputy attorney general was eyed by U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to be the next attorney general, said a report released on Tuesday.

    According to the News Week, Eric Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, was expected to be the country's first African American attorney general. Full story

Obama seeks immediate action to curb U.S. emissions

    LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- In videotaped comments to the on-going Governors's Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama promised to set stringent limits on greenhouse gases, saying the need is too urgent for delay.

    "Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all," Obama said. "Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high, the consequences too serious."  Full story

U.S. senator McCain to run for re-election in 2010

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain's office said on Wednesday that he would run for re-election as the Arizona Senator in 2010.