After the weekend buzz over the possibility of Barack Obama's tapping Hillary Rodham Clinton for secretary of State, Newsweek's "Transition Toteboard" has moved the New York senator up to a 2-1 favorite for the position. Before Monday, Clinton was not even on the short list; the previous front-runners were Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., along with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and former U.N. ambassador Richard Holbrooke.
Other 2-1 favorites in Newsweek's admittedly "unscientific" calculations: former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers to regain his old job; Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain at his current post; and former Deputy AG Eric Holder to become the nation's first black attorney general. Additional possibilities being floated by the magazine's staff include Colin Powell for secretary of Education, Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris for secretary of Energy, and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly or Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton for Homeland Security secretary.
UPDATE: Newsweek's Michael Isikoff is now reporting that Eric Holder will be Obama's choice for attorney general, citing "two legal sources close to the presidential transition."
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