Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- New York Senator
Hillary Rodham Clinton has accepted offer to be the next U.S. state secretary,
joining her former presidential rival Barack Obama's cabinet, according to a
news report released on Friday.
Citing two of Clinton's associates, the New York
Times said in an online report that she made up her mind after additional
discussions with Obama about the nature of her role as the top U.S. diplomat and
his foreign policy plans.
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Barack Obama and Hillary
Clinton wave to the crowd during a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida October
20, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
"She's ready," one of the sources told the newspaper.
The former First Lady appeared to become the
forerunner for the top diplomat post last week after the two secretly met last
week in Chicago where Obama's transition office headquarters locate.
Earlier reports said that former President Bill
Clinton had agreed to cooperate with vetting procedure to clear the path for his
wife to head the State Department from Jan. 20, clearing the last barrier in the
path for her to be the next state secretary.
However, Clinton's advisors insisted in a
newly-released statement that "any and all speculation about Cabinet or other
administration appointments is for President-elect Obama's transition team to
address."
Obama's offer of a key cabinet post to his former
presidential rival was considered a remarkable union between the two and effort
to heal internal division the cruel and long-lasting campaign left to the
Democratic Party.
However, some Democrats and political analysts
reportedly questioned whether Clinton is too independent and ambitious to work
in her former rival's cabinet, but the doubt has been dismissed by Obama's team,
citing her capability to rebuild the U.S. foreign relations with her credibility
and experience.
Obama was expected to make the official announcement
on his cabinet members after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Earlier the day, Jim Jones, a retired Marine officer
who served for several years as the operational commander for NATO, was named by
several U.S. media as the top candidate for the president's national security
advisor.
Citing two sources, a CNN report said that Jones, as
a bipartisan figure, has close relationships with Defense Secretary Robert Gates
and Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was reported to be the next
state secretary.
New York Fed head named as candidate for Obama's treasury
secretary
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21
(Xinhua) -- Timothy Geithner, the current New York Federal Reserve head, was
named as the top candidate for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's treasury
secretary, said a TV report on Friday.
According to NBC, the 47-year-old president of the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York was considered as one of the two most potential for the
key cabinet post, along with Lawrence Summers, the former Treasury chief in the
Clinton's administration. Full story
Report: Obama to select New Mexico
governor as commerce secretary
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who
has turned from a rival to supporter for President-elect Barack Obama, appeared
as the most potential candidate for the next commerce secretary, said a TV
report on Friday.
According to NBC, Obama has nodded the appointment of
Richardson to the post but the official announcement would not be made before
the Thanksgiving holiday. Full story
Obama announces more White House
staff
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama announced more White House staff on Wednesday, including his
long-time friends.
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. Full story
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
