From The Hotline for Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

Rival Me This

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008


We love Doris Kearns Goodwin. But we're still waiting to see this vaunted "Team of Rivals" in the Obama cabinet and inner circle. OK, HRC's move to Foggy Bottom is "on track." But what other enemy is Obama making nice with?

-- Reaching out to Lieberman and McCain was magnanimous, sure, but neither man is getting tapped to lead DHS. That, of course, is going to another of his early supporters, who helped him court two key voting groups (women and Hispanics).

-- Given the drama and headaches involved in the Sec/State nom, the Clinton pick might be worth two or three other "rivals." And despite assurances that the vetting of B. Clinton is "on track", do we really think that he remain controversy-free?

-- And what about the bipartisan thing? Keeping Gates on board would send a strong signal. But should he also make a pro-active pick? Hotline's list of potential cabinet picks shows just 3 GOPers in the mix - NE'sHagel (CIA), NJ's Whitman (EPA) and IA's Leach (AG). Ahrnold has said he doesn't want a job in DC.

-- In the end, we may have to rename this book "Team of One Former Rival and Lots of Ex-Clinton Officials Who Backed Me." It's not very catchy. But at this point, it seems more accurate.

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