Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius may be nominated to take the Health and Human Services seat that would have been Tom Daschle’s.

A possible Sebelius nomination has been discussed almost from the moment Daschle withdrew his bid amid tax-related woes. Now, the noise over that possibility is getting louder, but Sebelius isn’t the only lawmaker in the running: Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is also said to be in the mix, Politico reports, as is Obama transition chief John Podesta. A source said other contenders may be considered, and that a decision was likely soon.

Sebelius, however, has long ties with the President — she was an early and ardent supporter of his campaign, and was a top surrogate for him during the campaign to women’s groups. She was long thought to have been a choice for some sort of Cabinet position, and her name has also been floated as a possible 2010 Senate candidate. But so far, she has said she plans to stay in Kansas and try to deal with her state’s budget problems.

But last week, Sebelius met with Obama’s senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, in between meetings in Washington. Sebelius’s spokeswoman, Beth Martino, confirmed the meeting with Jarrett to the AP but only said: "She had a meeting with her friend Valerie Jarrett, whom she has known for several years."

Although Sebelius’s tenure as her state’s insurance commissioner prior to becoming governor is seen as a plus for her, Bredesen is already meeting some resistance from Health Care for America Now, which says it "couldn’t think of anyone more wrong for health-care reform or more wrong for America." That group has fought with Bredesen over the years as he tried to cut spending in the state’s TennCare program, which provides health care for the poor. Bredesen’s office says he hasn’t even been contacted by the White House for any job.

Let’s hope that anyone Obama picks won’t have anymore tax problems!