Officials in Washington and New Hampshire tell The Associated Press that President Barack Obama is considering nominating Republican Senator Judd Gregg as his commerce secretary.
Senior Democrats said last night the New Hampshire senator is among the top of a list of those considered for Obama’s Cabinet, although they emphasized that no move was imminent. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made and they weren’t authorized to discuss the administration’s thinking.
Gregg was the GOP’s chief negotiator for the 700-billion-dollar bailout of the financial industry. He’s the ranking Republican on the powerful Budget Committee. He would be Obama’s second choice to run the commerce department. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson took his name out of consideration amid a grand jury investigation over how state contracts were issued to political donors.