Hagel, Lugar To Serve on Obama Cabinet?

Times Online ^ | 3-2-2008 | Sarah Baxter

[Fox_Mulder77]

AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton’s supporters.

The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

Senior advisers confirmed that Hagel, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and one of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate, was considered an ideal candidate for defence secretary. Some regard the outspoken Republican as a possible vice-presidential nominee although that might be regarded as a “stretch”.

Asked about his choice of cabinet last week, Obama told The Sunday Times: “Chuck Hagel is a great friend of mine and I respect him very much,” although he was wary of appearing as though he was already choosing the White House curtains. But after winning 11 primary contests in a row after Super Tuesday, he is ready to elbow Clinton off the stage.

[Impy]

Come on, you don’t see any rats goin’ down?

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, no, I meant that regardless if Hill is defeated by Sodrel again, he’d probably get the appointment if Jill Long-Thompson becomes Governor. We might knock off a few Democrats this year, but overall, we’re going to lose seats based upon retirements alone (and worst of all, the party has very little money — the rodents have a fortune and will be using it ruthlessly to pad their slim majorities. When we were in the majority, we had to drastically outraise the Dems to be competitive, because we’re not just competing against them, but the media, Hollyweird, the culture, the education system, etc.).