Obama Set to Pick Clinton as Secretary of State, But Will She Accept?

Two Democratic officials confirmed last night President-elect Barack Obama is set to name Sen. Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State. The formal announcement will come after Thanksgiving, according to the ever-anonymous sources, and shows how far the political powerhouses have come since they fought hard for the presidential nomination. The move also proves Obama is building what he’s called the "Team of Rivals."

Many feared Bill Clinton’s post-White House career would complicate matters, but Obama aides say they were pleased by Clinton’s "unprecedented disclosures about his finances," reports Politico. But the Clinton disclosures were just the tip of the iceberg in this complicated process.

Clinton and Obama have obviously been in close contact, but "Hillaryland," the senator’s closest allies, also played a large role in "campaigning" for Clinton, say insiders. Regardless, the ultimate decision remained up to Mr. Obama, who apparently believes Clinton would bring what one aide described as "instant stature and credibility" to the nation’s international relations. 

Some assumed Clinton would jump at the opportunity to become the nation’s top diplomat; aides say she’s also been mulling ways to improve her senatorial standing and has been waffling over which direction to take. The New York Times reports that Mrs. Clinton started talks with New York Democrats prior to the Obama invitation: 

The discussions about an enhanced position for Mrs. Clinton are factoring into her deliberations over joining the cabinet, the officials said. Mrs. Clinton, the junior senator from New York, is wrestling with whether to abandon her independence to become the nation’s top diplomat or remain in a chamber where lack of seniority limits her influence.

Mrs. Clinton asked to join the Senate Democratic leadership after the November 4 election, and party leaders began trying to figure out a way to accommodate her without dislodging any of the current leaders, Democratic officials said. The conversations, they added, preceded Mr. Obama’s approach to her about becoming secretary of state and are on the table if she turns the job down.

…

One friend said Mrs. Clinton decided late Wednesday to say no, reasoning that she would have more freedom in the Senate. By midday Thursday, the friend said, she was “back in the indecisive column again.”

Things are now apparently "on track" for the post-Thanksgiving announcement. That would be good news, but that just means another week of unconfirmed murmurs. Yippee!