Obama Mulls Republican for Commerce

Sources say Lynch would appoint interim GOP member

(NEWSER) - Republicans say they have a deal in place to make sure that if Barack Obama picks Judd Gregg to head the Commerce Department, they won't lose that 41st seat they need to mount a filibuster. Officials expect New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch to pick his former chief of staff Bonnie Newman—a veteran of the Reagan administration—to replace Gregg, the Union-Leader reports. More»

If he takes Commerce, they want NH governor to pick a Republican

(NEWSER) - Republicans are stepping up efforts to keep Judd Gregg from jumping to Barack Obama’s Cabinet, or, failing that, to convince New Hampshire’s Democratic governor to pick a Republican to replace him. Otherwise, Democrats would gain a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority. “It would be a loss to the Senate of a great mind,” said one high-ranking Republican. Asked what Republicans would offer to keep Gregg, he replied, “Whatever it is, name it.” More»

Major issues in the wake of Daschle's withdrawal

(NEWSER) - Tom Daschle gave up his nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary, raising a host of questions, Matthew Cooper writes at Talking Points Memo. Did an issue besides tax problems arise? Was the decision really Daschle’s, or the administration’s? Some other big issues:

1. How many Obama nominees will be felled by tax issues? If Geithner’s $34,000 is OK but Daschle’s $140,000 isn’t, where is that line?
2. Beyond heading the HHS, Daschle was billed by Obama as the pointman for the overhaul of the health care system. Who will lead the charge now?

(NEWSER) - As she coasts toward confirmation, Sonia Sotomayor picked up the support of a 9th Republican today, reports MSNBC. Ohio Sen. George Voinovich’s promised yea joins yesterday's announcement by Kit Bond of Missouri and on-again-off-again Obama cabinet nominee Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. Voinovich is among four of six retiring GOP senators who have pledged their support to Sotomayor—which means almost half of her GOP support won’t face reelection. More»

She's pressed to answer more questions on abortion

(NEWSER) - President Obama will have to wait until at least next week to have a complete Cabinet after Senate Republicans blocked the immediate confirmation of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius yesterday, AP reports. A vote on the Health and Human Services Secretary nominee—whose appointment is fiercely opposed by anti-abortion groups—will now take place after debate next Tuesday, when the Democrats expect to prevail. More»