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GOP applauds Clinton as potential secretary of state

BY ELIZABETH MOORE | elizabeth.moore@newsday.com

November 17, 2008

Yes, there are several names being floated for secretary of state in the Obama administration. But it was the trial balloon named Hillary Rodham Clinton that drew praise from several Republicans this past weekend, as well as from her own husband, who claimed not to be privy to details of her talks with the president-elect.

Clinton would be "a very good selection," the Senate's second-ranking Republican, Jon Kyl of Arizona, said in an interview with Fox News yesterday morning. "It seems to me she's got the experience. She's got the temperament for it. I think she would be well received around the world."

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) told Fox he didn't think she would have trouble winning confirmation. "She's worked across the aisle, has good bipartisan relationships" and "would have instant credibility around the world," he added. The United States has "a lot of relationships to repair and a lot of work to do, so I think she'd be a fine choice."

Obama and Clinton have done nothing to tamp down speculation on the widely leaked news that she traveled to meet with him in Chicago Thursday and discussed the possibility of the State Department job. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is also reported to have met with Obama last week and others, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, are reportedly also being considered for the post.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told the World Economic Forum's India meeting he thought giving Clinton the job "would be an outstanding appointment," adding it would also show "great courage" on Obama's part.

In an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said such an appointment "could be a great move."

Bill Clinton told an economic conference in Kuwait that his wife would be a "great secretary of state."

The former president said that he had a couple of phone conversations with his wife in the past two days, but said he did not know whether the issue of her appointment was discussed between the Obama camp and Hillary.

Even one of Clinton's most relentless critics, syndicated columnist Maureen Dowd, was warm on the idea.

"At long last, the feminist icon would represent the feminist ideal of getting a room of her own, all on her own," Dowd wrote yesterday.

-Click here to see photos of Sen. Hillary Clinton meeting with more than 20 world leaders

-Click here to see photos of Sen. Hillary Clinton, at work and play

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BUILDING THE

OBAMA TEAM

Rahm Emanuel:

Chief of staff

Mona Sutphen, Jim Messina: Deputy chiefs

of staff

Valerie Jarrett: Senior White House adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison

David Axelrod, Pete Rouse: Senior advisers

Philip Schiliro:

White House liaison

to Capitol Hill

Gregory Craig: Expected to be White House counsel

Robert Gibbs: Expected to be press secretary

- Combined news services