CO-03: Salazar to Stay?

From the Denver Post:

U.S. Rep. John Salazar will accept an appointment to the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee, signaling that he is not President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for secretary of agriculture.

Salazar’s office confirmed late Wednesday that he would take a seat on the Appropriations Committee, which makes decisions on federal spending in the House.

Two people close to the process, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak, said Salazar’s acceptance of one of the coveted spots on appropriations was a clear indication he was unlikely to end up as head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Eric Wortman, Salazar’s spokesman, said an announcement about the appropriations appointment was scheduled for today. Wortman said the Manassa Democrat still might end up in the Obama administration and stressed that Salazar was not withdrawing from consideration for the agriculture post.

“If Obama made an offer, he would consider it, but he sees this appointment to the Appropriations Committee as part of serving his district,” Wortman said.

ColoradoPols has been hearing inside chatter for several days indicating that Salazar was unlikely to get the Ag gig, and a seat on Appropriations is not a bad consolation prize at all — and it would keep a headache-inducing special election off the table.