Monday, October 20, 2008

Obama's presidential saff if elected

Austan Goolsbee, the University of Chicago economist who is expected to head up the Council of Economic Advisors in an Obama White House, is a centrist who supports free trade. Another campaign advisor, Jason Furman - who will likely head the National Economic Council - previously ran a centrist, pro-trade policy research group founded by former Treasury secretary Robert Rubin.
For Treasury Secretary, Obama is expected to look outside his campaign staff. The most frequently floated names are Federal Reserve Bank of New York president Timothy F. Geithner, American Express CEO Ken Chenault and former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
On national security, Obama has sought out advisors who, like him, believe in robust public diplomacy. His two top foreign policy advisors - Tony Lake and Susan Rice - are former Clintonites. Rice is expected to head the National Security Council and Lake is in contention for Secretary of State, along with Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. John Kerry and GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel.
Obama has preached bipartisanship during his campaign, and many expect him to appoint a few Republicans to cabinet positions. Homeland Security could be headed by Bush critic and former White House counter-terrorism advisor Richard Clarke or GOP Senator Dick Lugar.
At Defense, Obama may keep Secretary Robert Gates on board, though he is said to be considering former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Ret. Gen. Jim Jones and Bill Clinton's Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, who serves as an advisor to the Obama campaign. Some believe California Rep. Jane Harmon could also be considered, but her strained relationship with Nancy Pelosi could make this a nonstarter.

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