Democrat Jill Long Thompson may have lost her bid for governor, but she could be on her way to Washington as part of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, the Associated Press reported.
The former Indiana congresswoman is mentioned as a possible contender for the spot of Agriculture Secretary. Long Thompson's name is listed along with five others -- President of National Farmers Union Tom Buis, former Texas Rep. Charles Stenholm, South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff Sebelius.
She obviously has the academic and professional background to make this a logical choice. What remains to be seen is whether Long Thompson has enough friends in all the right places to make this happen.
Speaking of friends, it looks as if former Rep. Tim Roemer's insatiable thirst for the stump may pay off, with Brian Howey pegging the 9/11 Commission member as a short-list contender for heading up the CIA.
Victory parties were still rocking all across the country Wednesday morning when the media began turning their speculative eye toward the question of who will join President-elect Barack Obama in Washington come January. Emerging out of this time-honored guessing game have been more than a few native sons, and more than a few coy denials.
Former U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer is being mentioned by fellow Democrats as one of the individuals President-elect Obama might tap as he assembles his Cabinet.
Roemer, who represented the South Bend area in the U.S. House from 1991 to 2003, is "certainly being considered for high office in the Obama administration," said former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton.
Hamilton himself would be a popular choice, but at 77, the former congressman sought to downplay his potential role in the Obama administration.
Other trendy picks have been Sen. Richard Lugar and Sen. Evan Bayh, with both quickly (and tactfully) distancing themselves from the idea.
Bayh, a popular two-term Senate Democrat who was rumored to have been on Obama's vice presidential short list, is focused on his work in the Senate, said his spokesman Eric Kleiman.
"He really does love his day job," Kleiman said.
The state's other U.S. senator, Republican Richard Lugar, has already removed himself from speculation that he might serve in Obama's Cabinet.
That's the scuttlebutt on the 'net right now, due in no small part to the inclusion of Roemer on the indispensable Chris Cillizza's "Friday Line" a few days ago. It is no secret that Roemer has been one of Obama's most vocal supporters in the state, participating in conference calls on behalf of the candidate and representing him at the ever-important Dyngus Day celebrations last Monday. At the same time, this was out of left field for me, at least in terms of Roemer's statewide efforts getting national attention.
Here's what The Fix had to say about the former congressman's chances:
Tim Roemer: Roemer is a new member of the Fix's veepstakes Line. A former congressman from the South Bend-based District in Indiana, Roemer could up his chances if he can help deliver the Hoosier State to Obama on May 6. As importantly, Roemer was a member of the high-profile 9/11 Commission and is currently the president of the Center for National Policy -- a think tank that looks closely at national security issues.
Roemer certainly doesn't have the statewide name ID numbers as the other Indiana-based VP contender -- Sen. Evan Bayh -- but his experience in the foreign policy field would be invaluable for an Obama campaign that will be looking to bolster his credentials in that area in the general election.
Of course, I think the geographic balance of the ticket would be questionable, so I still put this in the "long shot" category, but I think Roemer is definitely deserving of attention as the Veepstakes heats up.
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