Obama cabinet begins to take shape

NBC News
Published: November 19, 2008

President elect Barack Obama spent Wednesday working in his transition office in Chicago, and while there were no official announcements on who will be in the new cabinet we are learning more about some of the future president’s choices.

And about a high stakes negotiation that may lead to senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
As word trickled out on some cabinet choices, the biggest speculation still seemed to be over Secretary of State and whether Hillary Clinton will be offered and/or accept the job.

“This is a pretty high level chess match that’s going on between the Obama and Clinton camps,” said Glenn Thrush of the Politico.

The Obama team, now vetting Hillary Clinton, is reportedly taking a close look at president Clinton’s overseas business dealings
But it is a Clinton era controversy being named as the biggest potential issue for Obama’s choice for Attorney General, Eric Holder.

“The one prominent stumbling block is that he was deputy attorney general , or acting attorney general, at the time that president clinton gave a pardon to marc rich, said Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune.

The pardon for the fugitive businessman, whose ex-wife pledged money to the Clinton library, may come up in confirmation hearings for holder.
Meantime over at the Pentagon, word is, current Defense Secretary Robert Gates could stay on in an Obama administration.

While, sources say, its a done deal for Tom Daschle, the former South Dakota Senator is reportedly Obama’s pick to head the Health and Human Services department.

Still, those close to the future president say any “official” announcements will likely have to wait until more key pieces are in place.