Obama Weighs Clinton, Richardson For State

President-Elect Considering Former Democratic Primary Rivals For Secretary Of State

(CBS/AP)  President-elect Barack Obama has interviewed primary election rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson to be his secretary of state, Democrats said Friday, as he weighed the decision on folding former foes into his new administration.

Obama had secret meetings in Chicago with Richardson on Friday and a day earlier with Clinton, said several Democratic officials. He plans to meet there Monday with his Republican opponent, John McCain, but advisers to both of the general election rivals say they don't expect Obama to consider McCain for an administration job.

The meeting with Clinton, revealed to The Associated Press on Friday, excited a burst of speculation that Obama would transform the former first lady and his fierce campaign foe into one of his top Cabinet officials and the country's chief diplomatic voice. But where she stands in contention for the post came into question as other Democrats, also speaking on condition of anonymity about the private discussions, said Richardson was brought in as well.

One source told CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante that perhaps this is just an honorable mention - a way of rewarding Sen. Clinton for her help during the campaign. But Clinton's visit to Chicago - on what her office will describe only as private business - signals that she may be under serious consideration.

The two are not the only candidates Obama has talked to about the job, Democrats said. One senior Obama adviser said the president-elect has given no evidence whom he is favoring for the post.

Obama asked Clinton directly whether she would be interested in the job, said one Democrat, who cautioned that it was no indication that he was leaning toward her.

Lanny Davis, a longtime friend of the Clintons who served as White House special counsel in Bill Clinton's administration, said on CBS' The Early Show Friday that Clinton would be an "outstanding" secretary of state.

"As first lady, she traveled the world, won friends in the third world, as well as among our allies in Europe, as an emissary to the president and as a close councilor to President Clinton," said Davis. "So she is a very special person because of her ability, as I said, to look at the world through other people's eyes, which is what we've lacked in the last eight years, and to reengage with Europe and our allies, as well as with hostile governments who need to be engaged and need to have relations open."

Obama was deciding on his presidential staff as well, naming longtime friend Valerie Jarrett as a White House senior adviser. Jarrett met Obama when she hired his wife for a job in the Chicago mayor's office years ago and has been a close confidante to the couple ever since.

Obama was silent and out of sight in Chicago. On Friday evening, he attended a birthday party for Jarrett at a high-rise building in the city. Clinton, a New York senator, addressed a transit conference in her home state and said emphatically, "I'm not going to speculate or address anything about the president-elect's incoming administration, and I'm going to respect his process."

Obama's aides say he would like to have McCain as a partner with him on legislation they both have advocated, such as climate change, government reform, immigration and a ban on torture.

All this fits with an idea that Obama often talked about on the campaign trail, as he praised the presidency of Abraham Lincoln as described by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin in her book "Team of Rivals."

"Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was: How can we get this country through this time of crisis?" Obama said at one point.

Lincoln appointed three of his rivals for the Republican nomination to his Cabinet. Obama turned to one rival for vice president, picking Democratic primary candidate Joe Biden even though Biden had questioned whether Obama had the experience to be president.

In his first two weeks as president-elect, Obama has struck a bipartisan tone. He paired a Republican and a Democrat to meet with foreign leaders this weekend on his behalf in Washington, for example.

It's far from clear how interested Clinton would be in being his secretary of state. She'd face a Senate confirmation hearing that would certainly probe her husband's financial dealings - something the Clintons refused to disclose in the presidential campaign.

But remaining in the Senate may not be Clinton's first choice, either, since she is a junior senator without prospects for a leadership position or committee chairmanship anytime soon.

Being secretary of state could give Clinton a platform for another run at the presidency in eight years. Obama could also get assurances from her that she wouldn't challenge him in four years.

And, unlike the vice presidency that Obama never seriously considered her for, as secretary of state she would serve at his pleasure.

Richardson is the governor of New Mexico and has an extensive foreign policy resume. He was President Bill Clinton's ambassador to the United Nations and has conducted freelance diplomacy for the U.S. in such hot spots as Sudan and North Korea.

Richardson also served in Clinton's Cabinet as energy secretary and angered his former boss when he endorsed Obama after ending his own primary campaign this year.

Another Democrat emerged as a possible contender for an administration post Friday - Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle was contacted by Obama's transition team, according to a gubernatorial spokesman who did not disclose details. Doyle, a two-term governor and former state attorney general, was an early backer of Obama.

An alliance between Obama in the White House and McCain in the Senate could help both sides - Obama by having a Republican ally on some issues and McCain by helping rebuild his own power. The two men spoke about getting together when McCain called Obama to concede on the night of the election, advisers on both sides say.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a McCain confidant, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois Democrat whom Obama has chosen to be his White House chief of staff, also plan to be at Monday's meeting in Chicago.

"It's well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality," Obama spokesman Stephanie Cutter said in announcing the meeting.

Also Friday, officials in Nebraska announced that Obama has won an electoral vote there, making history in a state that has never split its electoral votes. Under the American system, voters cast ballots for small groups of electors from each state, who in turn vote for the president.

After all remaining ballots were counted Friday, Obama emerged with a 3,325-vote lead over Republican John McCain in unofficial results in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the city of Omaha.

Nebraska, with five votes, and Maine are the only states that divide their electoral votes by congressional district.

Obama now has 365 electoral votes to McCain's 162.

Missouri, with 11 electoral votes, is still too close to call. Election officials there have until Tuesday to finish counting.

[donlb-2009]

I think that Sen. Hillary Clinton would be an outstanding secretary of State. The decision is really belongs to President-elect Obama and Sen. Clinton. If it comes to pass, the United States would be the better for it.

[mrstracy1]

I should have known that anything the Clinton''s did for Obama had strings attached. This is a thinly disguised 3rd term for the Clintons. If something happens to Obama and Biden, Clinton will be next in line to the throne; "Billary" all over again. Obama sold out to the Clintons already. I''m so tired of his and her corruption and those cigars! Enough already. We didn''t vote for the Clintons! Somebody, anybody, for Secretary of State except Bill or Hillary Clinton.

[renonv5]

I think that Sen. Hillary Clinton would be an outstanding secretary of State. The decision is really belongs to President-elect Obama and Sen. Clinton. If it comes to pass, the United States would be the better for it.
Posted by DonLB

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I totally agree with you.

[renonv5]

Posted by DeckardBR

You need to grow up.

[gangesdak]

If something happens to Obama and Biden, Clinton will be next in line to the throne;
Posted by mrstracy1 at 11:36 AM : Nov 14

Relax, if something happens to the President & the VP, the third in line is the Speaker (perhaps no darling of yours!), not the Secretary of State.

[brianp55]

Wonderful. Just when many of us thought (and hoped) that she might be drifting into oblivion, she resurfaces.

[drivelphobe]

Obama will regret choosing the "screeching hag" for any involvement in his regime. How corrupt this all is. NO one wants anything more to do with the self-serving, greedy Clintons and yet here she comes again. They are a disgusting couple and an embarrassment to all. This, if it happens, will backfire on Big O, but he deserves it if he''s made a pact with the devils.

[armydog2]

Hillary is a very good choice, actually bill clinton would be outstanding as sec of state. He is an excellent statesman.

[schoenberg12]

Clinton would make a fine choice; however, Bill Richardson would make a better choice. Richardson speaks a language other than English, adequately or decently. This in itself gives him a different mindset. He has experience at the negotiation table with, for example, North Korea, is firm but amiable and like Obama, grew up in another country. A big advantage in a multi-polar world. Having said that, it would not surprise me if the average gringo would say that is all irrelevant. ?Csmo piensan? ?O azn creen que son los znicos en el mundo? Ni Hao a?

[citizenusa-2009]

The reality of it is this folks: The WORLD loved us when the Clinton''s were in office. The REPUBLICAN PARTY HATED that the Clinton Administration was so successful. Thus, Hillary would be an OUTSTANDING CHOICE for Secretary of State.

NOW, Obama has a chance to cherry pick the best parts of that Administration. He''s an intelligent man and knows that capable people who succeed, reflects directly upon him. Despite you wing nuts who hate her have to say (for what reason is beyond me), Obama''s choice of Clinton, would be a BRILLIANT MOVE.

[citizenusa-2009]

Stumpy, and her custard pantsuit, should strike fear into the hearts of world leaders everywhere. The KGB and Mossad will fold their tents and head for the hills when she screeches into town. Stumpy''''s passion for health care and family values can be taken worldwide with her new, all-encompassing, tax-and-spend program, "No Behind Left Behind."

Posted by DeckardBR at 11:37 AM : Nov 14, 2008

Clearly, you are jealous of Hillary. Did she flirt with your husband?

[downtowner97]

How about Jimmy Carter for secretary of energy? He tried so hard to get us off of oil in the seventies, and even put solar panels on the White House. Reagan came in and took the solar panels off the White House and cut the fuel efficiency standards Carter had put in place.

[chetthor]

Wow! these republicans need to get back to their jobs... they all make more that $200,000 a year... if they lose there important jobs they won''t be able to pay their taxes.

They think that Ms Rice should stay with this administration, she has done such a fine job. Maybe Obama should ask Cheney to be Sec State... now there is a classy guy...

or the top repub cheerleader...drug addict Rush Lumbaugh

To get a Repub to interview you''d have to check airport rest rooms.... or let them bring their boyfriend with them.

[davide73-2009]

I agree with Schoenberg12 that Bill Richardson would make a better Secretary of State than Hillary Clinton. He has an outstanding track record in diplomacy. Hillary''s chief accomplishment is that she is Bill''s wife.

[iesean]

Clinton is an excellent choice. Here''s why: (1) She is not a polarizing figure in other countries, as she is in the states. (2) She is as tough as nails. Anybody doubting that should step up and try and compete with her. Shooting spit-wads from the cheap seats doesn''t count. (3) She and Bill have a lot of political capital world wide, putting that to work is whip smart. (4) Because of Bill Clinton''s major advances in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, this signals that middle-east peace is of highest priority. Combine a real peace-agreement with the world wide support the current president has, and you have a completely isolated Iran%u2026more than whip smart. That%u2019s strategy baby.

[gaymale1]

Obama REALLY NEEDS to SELECT HILLARY FOR SECRETARY OF STATE . IF he even wants the Democratic party to re-unite , he needs to SELECT HILLARY FOR SECRETARY OF STATE .

[bigsk8fan]

Wow! these republicans need to get back to their jobs... they all make more that $200,000 a year... Posted by chetthor

actually, that is not true. republicans are lower income wage earners. exit polling showed that a majority of people earning over $200,000 favored obama. so did college educated, graduate educated, high school educated, people having savings, people having stock market investments, women, men (in most upper income and lower income and upper middle income), african americans, latinos, jews, etc. basically, republicans are lower-middle income malcontents claiming (like joe the plumber) that they have grandiose dreams at riches. the fact is completely the reverse. go to cnn politics and check out their exit polling data for yourself.

[marcosis78]

actually, that is not true. republicans are lower income wage earners. exit polling showed that a majority of people earning over $200,000 favored obama.

Thats because of the Bush effect. If it was a better economy and the war was over, I bet you anything a lot of them are republicans voting against their own party. The better man won the election, by far. McCain didn''t prove anything, except that he can REALLY sling the mud and that he has NO idea what a middle class family deals with. Then again, by what he said, we would all make $5 million dollars if we were middle class.

Wouldn''t it be interesting if Obama appointed her Attorney General.....
All kinds of possibilities......

[ldvuong]

She does not want to be vice-president, but Secretary of State? Wait and see how Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Syria and the Taliban leaders behave in the near future. They must be afraid, very afraid??

[txgrouch2007]

Hillary Clinton? Tough as nails? Cried 3 times? There''''s no crying politics..
Posted by william87881 at 12:56 PM : Nov 14, 2008

But she SHOT A DUCK.

That will give them foriegners something to think about...

[txgrouch2007]

The BEST part about Hillary being Sec''y of State is, SHE MIGHT HAVE TO QUIT HER SENATE SEAT.

And then, if the world ends up hating us, we can BLAME HER.

[spinproof]

The best solution is to let Sen. Hillary Clinton select her own role and give it to her. Under those conditions Sen. Clinton may decide Gov. Bill Richardson is the best fit for Secretary of State, but if Sen. Clinton wants to be Secretary of State then let her have it. Gov. Richardson stepped up to the plate for Sen. Obama when it counted and Pres.-elect Obama should find a prominent role for him. Deep down I believe Sen. Clinton knows Secretary of State is a better fit for Gov. Richardson and may want the job as pay back or revenge because Gov. Richardson supported Sen. Obama and not her in the Primaries. Sen. Clinton can excel and fit in almost any role, the same is not true for Gov. Richardson, I don''t think he would make a good Attorney General for example while Sen. Clinton would.

[txgrouch2007]

Oil is down to $58 on fears that Hillary might stamp her foot at the oil producing nations.

They aren''t taking any chances on making her angry...

[cattiej]

Hillary Clinton, should stay at her job as Senator from New York. If anyone should be Secretary of State it should be John Kerry or Al Gore. NAFTA needs to out and so does Bill Richardson, Bill will want all the illegals to become citizens, just because they are in OUR COUNTRY. Our people are getting layed off, losing thier jobs, losing their homes and the big CEO''s of American companies are still getting BIG MONEY, OUR MONEY..All illegals go home. All companies hiring people from India, your fired. State Farm in Bloomington has brought in thousands of people from India, last approx count, there were 7-8 thousand in a town on 900,000 people. If you like cars from other countries so much, when you get hungry, eat your foreign car! Buy American!

[cattiej]

Hillary should not be Secretary of State..Bill is the one responsible for NAFTA...our road to ruin here in America. This just might be the same old game, with the faces just switched around.
Obama has resigned as Senator here in Illinois. Who will replace him??? As a citizen of Illinois we don''t like this Governor, he is a crooked as the Nile Rive. The only person who we think should replace Obama is Lisa Madigan, Illinois States Attorney. Now there''s a smart women, who knows what''s going on and one of the few honest politicans from Chicago. It''s time Illinois showed some red, white and blue and had a honest to goodness person who will work for the people of ths state of Illinois.

[lochlan-2009]

Hillary doesn''t need any more power than she already has. She is dangerous and connected (in the bad way) and has no remorse slaughtering a few sheeple, or giving us all a trim to buy new drapes for the upper 1%. Just the Dem''s upper 1% rather then the GOP''s 1%.
Keep this predator out of power please.

[imaghast]

CBS news "confirms" that Hillary is being considered for Foggy Bottom...? That''s about as impressive as sticking your head out the window to ''confirm'' that it''s raining. No one expects CBS to credit Andrea Mitchell with having scooped you, but don''t break your arm trying to pat yourself on the back for something you don''t deserve any credit for whatsoever. Your journalistic credibility is at stake.

[brianp55]

Obama has not yet been sworn in and he''s already back to "business as usual", cutting secret deals with the likes of the Clintons. The only good thing to come out of this will be the entertainment derived from watching Michelle Obama interact with Hillary.

[o2brich]

The Clintons are the incarnation of the Thinardiers from Victor Hugo''s 1862 book "Les Misirables". Having gotten rid of them once we certainly don''t want them back. Our condolences to the people of New York state who had the poor judgment to vote her in as Senator. Have mercy on us if either one of them every make it back into national office. Talk about Bush being a total disappointment. He''s angelic in comparison to either of the Clintons.

[schoenberg12]

Bill Richardson a more able choice.

[drsam8]

Hillary Clinton is immersely qualified to be Secretary of State. In this instance, however, if indeed she is interested in the job, I suspect she is doing it for two reasons: To block Richardson and Terry (her nemesis during the Primary nomination process and therefore sabotage their prospect) and to exercise power and be a world wide ambassador in a popular Obama adminstration. The question for Obama in this: Is it wise to ignore Richardson and Terry? At what cost?

[thisandthat1]

Of course .... this was part of the deal struck last Spring and Summer for her and Bill not to cause trouble for him during the election. Another backroom political deal! This just makes the Clinton''s look even sleezier than they looked earlier in the year.

[odinnasgaard]

Obama has not yet been sworn in and he''''s already back to "business as usual", cutting secret deals with the likes of the Clintons. The only good thing to come out of this will be the entertainment derived from watching Michelle Obama interact with Hillary.

Posted by brianp55 at 01:59 PM : Nov 14, 2008


What secret deals? Is EVERYTHING a conspiracy to you?

[dzemog1]

Hillary Clinton is immersely qualified to be Secretary of State. In this instance, however, if indeed she is interested in the job, I suspect she is doing it for two reasons: To block Richardson and Terry (her nemesis during the Primary nomination process and therefore sabotage their prospect) and to exercise power and be a world wide ambassador in a popular Obama adminstration. The question for Obama in this: Is it wise to ignore Richardson and Terry? At what cost?


Posted by DrSam8 at 02:13 PM : Nov 14, 2008
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Hi DrSam8, his name is John Kerry, NOT Terry. But I agree Obama has some tough decision ahead. Clinton, Kerry and Richardson are ALL more than qualified for the post. Appointing Clinton would please her former supporters (and Bill). Appointing Richardson makes Latinos feel heard and supported. Appointing Kerry pays him back for being the one who gave Obama his entree onto the national stage in 2004. All 3 are great choices, and all 3 are deserving. Whichever way he goes, the country will be in good hands.

[scb1111_1]

This is probably one of Barack Obama best choice!!! I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries and felt she should have been the President-Elect now, but I feel that the Secretary of State is a good position too!!! I think she should take it for his first and only term!!!

[scb1111_1]

I think Barack Obama will consider John McCain as Secretary of Defense??? I think Obama would do himself a big favor in getting McCain on his team with this position!!!

[mediatalking]

Cant wait to see her Senate Confirmation hearing when they start asking her about her Billy''s financial ties to the Chinese and the Saudi''s%u2026. this will be real funnnnnn and all the nasty things she/he said about each other..... now she want to be subservient to him........ and do his bidding...... hahahahhahahhaha

[colt8881]

Its clear that Hillary and Barack made some kind of agreement if Barack Obama won the election. Hillary threw her support 1000% behind Barack Obama and supported him and he won.

Hillary was going to come out of this Democratic Election a Winner either way & I am very happy for her.

Hillary will make a FANTASTIC SECRETARY OF STATE.

[hatesthecolt]

I think Barack Obama will consider John McCain as Secretary of Defense??? I think Obama would do himself a big favor in getting McCain on his team with this position!!!


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Posted by scb1111_1


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! If we have learned anything from the last 6 months, it''s that John McCain is broken and should not be in a position that requires decisionmaking. We need a competent capable SECDEF. It can be a moderate republican, but it must be someone who isn''t on the brink of senility. Plus, McCain has been crappy on defense issues; just ask vets.

[tmittelstaed]

Why would Hillary give up a cushy Senate job? If she became Sec of State then after that ended she would be out of a job. She isn''t electable as President.

[iawildcats72]

Senator Hillary Clinton has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth so I don''t think it would be a good pick.

[serioussandy]

I''d love to see Hillary as Secretary of State and Colin Powell as Secretary of Defense.

[ctla567]

This would be a smart move. Hillary is well known worldwide. Besides this will please her supporters and in turn will support Obama.

[ajmarine111]

Senator Hillary Clinton has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth so I don''''t think it would be a good pick.


Posted by IAWildcats72 at 03:30 PM : Nov 14, 2008



So does Biden, but everyone says "that''s just Joe being Joe",......maybe it will work that way for Hillary.

[ksh1022]

Hillary would be excellent! She''s smart, experienced, capable and has the uniques position of an insider''s view point. There wouldn''t be much on the job training.

[yeswedid]

I''''d love to see Hillary as Secretary of State and Colin Powell as Secretary of Defense.

Posted by SeriousSandy at 03:37 PM : Nov 14, 2008
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Me too. I was hoping they would find a good position for her in the cabinet. Can''t wait til this new administration gets in!!

[ajmarine111]

Posted by yeswedid

New administration? Joe Biden, Clinton''''s cabinet, and now Hillary? This is "changing washington"?


Posted by jgg0002 at 04:36 PM : Nov 14, 2008



Don''t forget Kerry and Powell''s names have been thrown around too.

[dbashaggy-2009]

lastdance, I am having a hard time finding where you got those Hillary quotes from, can you let me in on the secret, cause they don''t sound real. They sound more like GW.

[dbashaggy-2009]

mr stacy, I agree with nowaymcgoo. Bush had everyone and his brother in his government that was in cahoots with Nixon through Bush''s daddy, and they were all crooks like that rat (Nixon) that spawned them.