White House Taps Nussle To Replace Portman

White House budget director Rob Portman will announce his resignation Tuesday and will be replaced by former Republican Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa.

Portman, a former House member from Ohio, told the Associated Press he is leaving to spend more time with his family in Cincinnati, but the popular and ambitious Republican has not ruled out a future bid for the Senate or the governor's mansion.

Portman left the House two years ago to become U.S. Trade Representative and then replaced White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten as budget director when the latter was tapped to replace Andy Card.

Nussle, who chaired the Budget Committee, left the House last year after waging an unsuccessful campaign for governor and has been serving as an adviser to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in his bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

President Bush is expected to announce the personnel move during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.