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Sources: Hillary Clinton considered for secretary of state

November 14, 2008

Could a plum spot in Barack Obama's administration be in the offing for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton?

Several news outlets reported last night that the New York senator was under consideration for secretary of state. The outlets all quoted unnamed Obama advisers.

The Clinton camp refused to comment on the possibility. Senior adviser Philippe Reines said: "Any speculation about cabinet or other administration appointments is really for President-elect Obama's transition team to address."

Throughout the Democratic primaries, Obama criticized Clinton's judgment in backing the war in Iraq. Many other names have been mentioned for the top diplomat job, including Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Georgia Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.).

Obama hinted broadly during the primaries that he would reach out to political rivals and even Republicans to fill his cabinet, at one point noting he was studying Lincoln's approach, reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "Team of Rivals."

"She talks about Lincoln's capacity to bring opponents of his and people who have run against him in his cabinet," Obama told CBS' Katie Couric in a January interview. "And he was confident enough to be willing to have these dissenting voices and confident enough to listen to the American people and push them outside of their comfort zone. And I think that part of what I want to do as president is push Americans a little bit outside of their comfort zone. It's a remarkable study in leadership."

-Click for the latest photos of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, at work and play

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