Hillary Clinton for Supreme Court

The White House on Monday afternoon squashed growing speculation that President Barack Obama might nominate Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens.

According to Ben Smith at Politico.com, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said, "The President thinks Secretary Clinton is doing an excellent job as Secretary of State and wants her to remain in that position."

Clinton herself was said to be flattered by the speculation, but happy in her current role.

Earlier Monday morning, Hatch, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, dropped Clinton's name in an interview with The Today Show on NBC.

"That would be an interesting person in the mix," said Hatch.

Asked by host Matt Lauer whether he thought Clinton was qualified for the role, Hatch replied that he has a "high respect" for her and thinks she has done a "good job" for Democrats as secretary of state.

His Democratic colleague on the committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, added, "I think she's done a good job for the country, not just for Democrats."

Watch the interview below.

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