Obama and McCain: Possible Cabinet Choices

As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, and with the winner still not quite certain, it makes sense that both candidates for president are finalizing their short lists of potential cabinet members. The Washington Post October 19 ran a couple of articles detailing the top prospects for both John McCain and Barack Obama.

First, McCain. According to the post, McCain advisers say the Arizona Senator wants to look outside Washington for cabinet officials, and that he wants a bipartisan administration. "The challenge of stocking an administration," the Post article says, "may be particularly acute for McCain, who has clashed with many leaders in his party establishment and the Bush administration. He keeps counsel with only a tight group of advisers."

Top priorities, according to the Post, would be the Secretaries of Defense and Treasury. Defense Secretary Gates could be asked to stay on in a McCain administration, although it is highly doubtful that Treasury Secretary Paulson would be asked to stick around. The Post says, "Many also see a big role in a McCain administration for his close friend Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), perhaps as secretary of state." Lieberman is already in hot water with congressional Democrats. Such a move would probably make Harry Reid's head explode.

A possible replacement for Paulson at Treasury? The Post says maybe Robert B. Zoellick or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Other possibilities: John Chambers of Cisco, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, and Meg Whitman, formerly of eBay.

Next up, Barack Obama. "If he is elected to the presidency," the Post says, "Sen. Barack Obama and his advisers have promised to bring bipartisanship and experience to his administration." The Post cites Obama advisers as saying possible cabinet choices include Republican Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

As chief of staff for Obama, the Post says, maybe former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota or Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois. At State, according to the Post, "Several advisers to Obama also said the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.), could be on the shortlist...."

For Secretary of Defense, Obama could ask Gates to stay a while, or he could go with Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed. On the economic front, the Post says, Obama could tap folks like Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers, both former Treasury Secretaries. Other names in the mix include Gene Sperlin, Michael Froman and former Fed Chair Paul Volcker. One other possibility mentioned by the Post for Treasury Secretary is New York Federal Reserve Bank president Timothy Geithner.

Finally, the Post offers up some other possible names for an Obama White House, including Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona as Attorney General and Susan Rice or James Steinberg for national security adviser.