Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has picked Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as his second choice for secretary of health, and the nomination was accepted by the governor on Saturday, according to U.S. media reports.

    Sebelius will replace former senator Thomas A. Daschle, who withdrew his nomination last month due to tax problems, the website of Washington Post and other news outlets reported.

    "The president asked Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to serve as his secretary of health and human services, and she accepted," one administration official was quoted as saying.

    "The president will formally announce the nomination on Monday afternoon at the White House," said the official.

    Sebelius, the 60-year-old daughter of a former Ohio governor, served as Kansas state insurance commissioner before winning the 2002 governor's race. She is halfway through a second term.

    Her nomination comes just days before the White House is scheduled to convene a high-level summit on health reform.

    In his budget, Obama set aside 634 billion U.S. dollars for a new health reform reserve fund.

Former Chinese-American governor nominated as U.S. commerce secretary

U.S.Former Washington state Governor Gary Locke makes a speech,as U.S. Presidend Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden stand by, after he was nominated as commerce secretary in U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, at the White House, Washington,D.C., on Feb.25, 2009.(Xinhua/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American who ever led a U.S. state government, was nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday as his third choice for Secretary of Commerce.

    Announcing the nomination in a live-broadcast event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, the president said that the 59-year-old Locke has lived the American Dream and "shares my commitment to do whatever it takes to keep it alive in our time." Full story

Obama's health secretary pick withdraws nomination

Secretary-designate for Health and Human Services Tom Daschle speaks to the media after meeting with Senate Finance Committee about his pending nomination on Capitol Hill in Washington February 2, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's choice for health secretary in his cabinet, Tom Daschle, withdrew his nomination on Tuesday over tax problems.

    "This morning, Tom Daschle asked me to withdraw his nomination for secretary of health and human services," Obama said in a statement. "I accept his decision with sadness and regret." Full story

Obama "absolutely" supports his choice for health secretary

Barack Obama (L) introduces former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (R) as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during a news conference in Chicago, December 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that he still supported his health secretary choice, who has been criticized for cheating on tax payments.

    Asked if he still backs Tom Daschle, a former senator, in the Oval Office, Obama replied "absolutely."  Full story

Obama's chief performance officer pick withdraws nomination

Barack Obama announces his appointment of former Treasury official Nancy Killefer (R) as the first White House "chief performance officer" to oversee budget and spending reform, during a news conference at his transition office in Washington January 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's choice for chief performance officer, Nancy Killefer, withdrew her nomination on Tuesday, said the White House.

    "She has withdrawn and we accepted her withdrawal," a White House spokesman was quoted as saying by the local media. Full story

Obama names Daschle as health secretary

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday named former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle,a leading advocate for health care reform, to be his health secretary.

    Speaking at a press conference in Chicago, Obama said Daschle will also oversee the new White House Office of Health Reform.   Full story