First Read has the unconfirmed news that Barack Obama has selected Eric Holder, the former deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno, to take the big job:
President-elect Obama has offered Eric Holder the position of attorney general, and Holder has accepted it, according to sources involved in the process. The formal announcement has been held up while Obama transition team members ran the idea past key senators. And Obama wanted to announce members of his financial team first — Treasury Secretary and so on.
Holder is a former superior court judge and U.S. attorney in Washington and a former prosecutor in the Public Integrity section of the Justice Department. He was Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno, during which he was well regarded. At one point, he strongly considered running for mayor of Washington, D.C., but decided being the No. 2 official at Justice was too good to pass up.
An oft-mentioned possibility for AG up until now was Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, whom many Dems consider a dream candidate to run for John McCain’s (possibly open) Senate seat in 2010. It’s still possible that she could be placed elsewhere in Obama’s cabinet, but for now, she still appears to be available.
Also this free’s up former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer to run for Governor in 2010.
Run Janet, Run!
He helped shepherd through the Marc Rich pardon. Jeff Sessions is going to have some fun with this one, kids.
And Sebelius could get Energy, which would take away two of our best 2010 Senate recruits. But given the Lieberman fiasco, I’m having a hard time sympathizing with the DSCC today.
To go after that succulent Senate seat in 2 years.
Run, Janet, Run!
There is no Lt. Gov. in Arizona. The president of the state senate, a Republican, would take over and have a head start for the ’10 election. Let Napolitano stay where she is.