Sen. Hillary
Clinton will give up her U.S. Senate seat to accept a
position as Secretary of State for President-elect Barack
Obama, The New York Times has learned.
Clinton, New
York's junior senator, has been in the running for weeks,
and came to the conclusion after additional discussion withs
Obama, two unnamed Democratic Party figures said on
Friday. However, Clinton's spokesman Philippe Reines
said in a statement on Friday that the nomination was
not final.
"We're still in
discussions, which are very much on track" he said.
"Any reports beyond that are premature."
Obama's
transition team said on Thursday that Clinton's nomination
was on track, adding Friday that the announcement
would be made after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Clinton's vetting
for the position has been hampered by her husband,
former president Bill Clinton, and his dealings in
international affairs. Lawyers for Obama and Bill
Clinton examined the former president's finances,
setting up guidelines for his future activities if his
wife does take the job. Closely scrutinized were
208,000 donors who contributed to his presidential library
and the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, which
funds international initiatives on HIV/AIDS, climate
change, the economy, and other issues. Bill Clinton
would be asked to restrict his role at his foundation as
well as his paid speechmaking.
New York governor
David Paterson would have to appoint a replacement for
Hillary Clinton in the Senate. While Paterson has yet to
name any possibilities, some speculate that state
attorney general Andrew Cuomo, congresswoman Carolyn
Maloney, environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (whose
father was once New York's senator), and others may
have a shot at the job. Columbia University political
science professor Sharyn O'Hallorain told Fox News
that another contender is New York City Council
Speaker Christine Quinn, the first openly gay person to hold
one of the city's highest ranking
posts. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)
