Bill Richardson, and John Kerry are two of the names currently being floated around the beltway campfire as potential candidates for the Secretary of State position under Barack Obama's administration. The most recent, and potentially most likely candidate, however, is Senator Hillary Clinton.
Mum Is Still the Word
The Obama team has refused comment on any imminent cabinet appointments, and for their part, Senator Clinton's camp referred all inquiries on the subject to the Obama team. The result has been a speculative catch-22 for journalists seeking to nab first news.
As Obama works closely with his transitional team, attempting to equip himself with a Presidential cabinet that represents "the best and the brightest," the persistent rumor of a Clinton appointment seems to confer a reasonable likelihood upon it. If any doubts linger that as President, Obama would confidently appoint another woman to the post, Obama's decision to send former Secretary Madeleine Albright to this weekend's G-20 Conference in his stead helps to extinguish them.
A Resource Not to be Wasted
During the most heated months of the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign, tensions between Clinton and Obama ran furiously high. That fact has led to speculation about availability of high administrative office for Hillary Clinton.
However, while there have been no confirmation that Senator Clinton has been called to serve as Secretary of State, there have been no denials from the Obama team, either.
This fact urges belief that the two sides might be wedged in negotiation as we speak.
Hillary Clinton, who has served as Senator of New York for nigh on a decade now, has a strong set of qualifications for the job of Secretary of State. She has been an outspoken proponent for women's rights worldwide, for years. Outspoken about such timely events such as the Beijing Olympics (Senator Clinton called for a United States boycott of the Opening Ceremony, as a symbolic gesture condemning China's poor human rights record).
Breaking News About Clinton Appointment!
NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell revealed today that Senator Clinton was indeed was under consideration for the job of Secretary of State. That news, coupled with the fact that Clinton recently said that she would not be interested in future appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This has been really tough on all of us reporters stuck with covering such a transition," said Mitchell. The significance of such an unprecedented leak on the part of the Obama team, which has let nearly nothing slide unofficially throughout the campaign, speaks for itself. Look to Senator Clinton receiving an offer soon.