Obama's top choice to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.According to other reports, Obama has also selected billionaire
Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker as commerce secretary. She
was his campaign finance chairwoman, and is credited with Obama's
breaking all political fundraising records.
Gov. Napolitano, whose handling of immigration issues brought
her praise from fellow governors, was an early supporter and
campaigner for Obama's presidential campaign and was reported
to be on a short list of people to fill cabinet posts in the
new administration.
Napolitano, 50, was re-elected to a second four-year term in
2006 as governor of Arizona, the home state of Sen. John McCain,
the Republican presidential nominee in the race against Obama.
The governor's spokeswoman, Jeanine L'Ecuyer, would not comment
on the reports.
"She's not looking for another job, and the president-elect will
announce his Cabinet selection when he's ready to do that," L'Ecuyer,
said.
Democratic officials said Napolitano has not been officially
offered the job but is likely to be named and to accept, pending
vetting.
The reports come on the same day it was learned former Senate
Majority Leader Tom Daschle will become Health and Human Services
secretary pending Senate confirmation.
Daschle accepted the offer, according to two Democratic sources
close to Daschle and with intimate knowledge of the decision. The
senator from South Dakota has long been an adviser to Obama's
campaign and served as a frequent surrogate on the campaign trail
and in media interviews.
The appointment has not been announced, but these officials said
the job is Daschle's, barring an unforeseen problem as Obama's
team reviews the background of the South Dakota Democrat.
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