History of Lincoln Inspires Obama's 'Team of Rivals'

Aides say he plans to do so just after Thanksgiving

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama remains "on track" to name Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state and plans to do so shortly after Thanksgiving, senior aides to the president-elect tell Politico. They said Clinton is expected to accept the offer and added that disclosure issues related to the complicated funding of Bill Clinton's foundation have been ironed out, the AP notes. More»

Cool-hand Barack wants heavy-hitters, isn't afraid of a fight

(NEWSER) - For a man who earned himself the nickname "No-Drama Obama" during the campaign, the president-elect seems to be assembling a surprisingly high-maintenance cabinet, writes Helene Cooper in the New York Times. From Larry Summers to Rahm Emanuel to Hillary Clinton, the partners that Obama has chosen or considered have big personalities and enjoy a catfight—which could quickly turn his cabinet of rivals into a lion's den. More»

Staying out of Obama administration, popular or not, seems better role

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton is a contender to be Barack Obama’s Secretary of State, but taking the job probably wouldn’t help her if she wants to succeed Obama in 2016, Nate Silver writes on FiveThirtyEight. Being part of a popular Democratic administration certainly wouldn’t hurt, but it would be easier for Clinton to distance herself from an unpopular one if she wasn’t part of it. More»

Pundits split on merits of Clinton as Obama's most powerful cabinet member

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is widely reported to be considering Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, causing a storm of speculation over the pros and cons of the choice.

• The case for Clinton is plain, Jake Tapper writes at ABC News. She's smart, strong, experienced, reasonably diplomatic—and she's familiar with many of the world's leaders.

Campaign feud gets in the way of foreign policy

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton visited Armenia last week, trying to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh disagreement and resolve the country's dispute with Turkey over the massacres of 1915. “You’ve got to salute Hillary,” writes Roger Cohen of the New York Times . “It’s a heck of a job being secretary of state when the White House puts a tight collar around the big issues — Afghanistan, Iran, Israel-Palestine and Iraq — and you’re left with Nagorno-Karabakh.” More»