Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Although U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has yet to officially announce his cabinet makeup, U.S. media this week made a series of guesses regarding the issue.

    Secretary of State:

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>>>

    Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady and current New York Senator, has reportedly accepted the offer to be the top diplomat in her former presidential rival's administration.

    After losing the primaries, she announced her support for Obama and rallied her voters to stand behind him. She became the forerunner for the top diplomat post last week after meeting with Obama in his Chicago transition headquarters, discussing her role in the future government.

    During her eight years in the White House with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, Madame Clinton has gained rich experience in global affairs. Some policy analysts think that if she becomes Secretary of State, she would bring the country a more hawkish stance in foreign policies.

    Commerce Secretary:

    New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was reportedly picked as the best hopeful for the next commerce secretary.

    He launched his bid for the White House last year as the country's first Hispanic candidate. After quitting the competitive Democratic presidential primaries, he threw his support behind Obama and campaigned nationwide for him.

    Before taking the governor's office, he served as former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary during President Bill Clinton's administration.

    Treasury Secretary:

    Timothy Geithner, the current president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, was named as the top candidate for Obama's treasury secretary.

    Born in New York City, Geithner spent his high school years in Thailand, then attended Dartmouth College, graduated with a bachelor degree in government and Asian studies. After that, he obtained a master degree in international economics and East Asian studies from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

    He has studied Japanese and Chinese and has lived in East Africa, India, Thailand, China and Japan.

    He joined the U.S. Treasury Department in 1988, and was promoted to Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs in 1999.

    In 2002, he left the Treasury to join the Council on Foreign Relations and then worked for the International Monetary Fund as the director of the Policy Development and Review Department until moving to the Fed in October 2003.

    Attorney General:

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

    The 57-year-old political veteran has served as a superior court judge in Washington D.C. and was named the capital's U.S. attorney. He was appointed as the deputy attorney general in 1997.

    Currently, he is a partner in the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling.

    During Obama's campaign, Holder served as a senior legal advisor for Obama.

    Homeland Security Secretary:

    Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was reportedly asked by Obama to serve as the secretary of homeland security in the incoming administration.

    The 50-year-old is in her second term as the governor. Before becoming an elected official, she has served in several legal positions in court and private law firms.

    In 1993, Napolitano was appointed by President Bill Clinton as U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona.

    She won the gubernatorial election in 2002, and won the re-election four years later.

    On Jan. 11, 2008, she announced her endorsement of Obama as the Democratic nominee for President.

　　Health Secretary:

    Tom Daschle, U.S. former Senate majority leader during the Clinton's administration, was chosen as the next secretary of health and human services.

    The 60-year-old Democrat was elected to the House of Representatives from South Dakota in 1978 and then the Senate in 1986.

    Eight years later, Daschle, who was in his third term in the floor, was chosen to be the minority leader of the Democratic Party that turned into the majority years later.

    In the 2004 Congressional elections, Daschle lost his seat in the Senate to his Republican challenger John Thune.

    Daschle currently serves as a special public policy adviser in the Washington office of the lobbying firm Alston Bird, and his wife, Linda, is a registered lobbyist at Baker Donelson, a company having some clients in health-related fields.

New York Times: Clinton accepts offer to be next U.S. state secretary

    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.

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