As I noted last night, the biggest Obama transition rumor of all involves Hillary Clinton being on the short list for Secretary of State.
NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, for example, reported the following late yesterday:
Two Obama advisers have told NBC News that Hillary Clinton is under consideration to be secretary of state. Would she be interested? Those who know Clinton say possibly. But her office says that any decisions about the transition are up to the president-elect and his team.
Clinton was seen taking a flight to Chicago today, but an adviser says it was on personal business. It is unknown whether she had any meeting or conversation with Obama while there.
Marc Ambinder, meanwhile, says that the speculation should be taken very seriously:
One Democrat who is privy to Sen. Clinton’s schedule would not say whether Clinton met with Obama. But this Democrat did say that the speculation that she was under consideration should be taken seriously. And Democratic aides report that Clinton’s Senate staff was suddenly very busy and very opaque about the reason for their activity.
And Mike Allen says that several Obama advisers are strongly pushing for Clinton:
Several Obama transition advisers are strongly advocating Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for secretary of state, a move that would create the ultimate “Team of Rivals” Cabinet, according to officials involved in the discussions.
President-elect Obama has narrowed the possibilities for secretary of state, and Clinton is among those being strongly considered, the officials said. Some even call her the favorite
It would certainly be an interesting pick, and it’s not without precedent; Abraham Lincoln named William Seward his Secretary of State after a bruising battle for the Republican nomination in 1860. It would also bring up yet another analogy to the final season of The West Wing, where President-Elect Santos asked his Republican rival to be his Secretary of State.
The question, though, is whether it would be a good idea.
James Joyner doesn’t think so:
While a “Team of Rivals” concept is a good one, Clinton for State isn’t. She’s simply not qualified. Aside from some dog-and-pony show trips as First Lady and Senator, she’s got no foreign policy credentials whatsoever. Her training, experience, and demonstrated interests are in domestic issues.
Perhaps, but that’s been true of other Secretaries of State. George Schultz, for example, did not have significant direct foreign policy experience before becoming President Reagan’s second Secretary of State, and he managed to do a fairly decent job.
The choice does raise several political issues, though. By even letting her name be leaked the Obama campaign is essentially saying that the job is hers for the asking. If Hillary says yes, she’s got the job. If she doesn’t then Obama has deftly placated his chief Democratic rival. Either way, Obama wins.
Hillary, the ball is in your court.
