That's the opening statement tonight on Countdown with Keith Olbermann reporting on a leak out of the Obama Transition team. The story was first broke by Andrea Mitchell.
The breaking news was picked up by Rachel Maddow during the following hour, where she interviewed Andrea Mitchell. Talking about the leak, Andrea Mitchell brought up the point that leaking this information would be "awkward" if Hillary Clinton was not seriously being considered for the postion. See Update IV for transcript.
Transcription of Keith Olbermann opening Countdown tonight:
Breaking news tonight in the 5th story on the Countdown. Our own Andrea Mitchell quoting two Obama advisers with what would be hands down the biggest leak of the transition or the campaign that Obama's rival in that unprecedented battle of the Democratic nomination is under consideration to become Secretary of State in the Obama Administration. As to the Senator herself, Andrea who broke this story earlier this evening, quoting her office as saying only that any decisions about the transition are up to the President Elect and his team. But her Clinton friendly sources answer the key question, "Would she be interested?" with the word "possibly." Adding to the heat, if not the light, Senator Clinton traveled today to, of all places, Chicago, although it is insisted by a Clinton advisor that this was personal business. That does not preclude the possibility that she might have met with the President Elect or Obama's advisers while there.
The Washington Post also has the story.
There's increasing chatter in political circles that the Obama camp is not overly happy with the usual suspects for secretary of state these days and that the field might be expanding somewhat beyond Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and maybe former Democratic senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.
There's talk, indeed, that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) may now be under consideration for the post. Her office referred any questions to the Obama transition; Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment.
The pick of the former presidential contender and Senate Armed Services Committee member would go a long way toward healing any remaining divisions within the Democratic Party after the divisive primaries. Also, Clinton has long been known for her work on international women's issues and human rights. The former first lady could also enhance Obama's efforts to restore U.S. standing amongst allies worldwide.
Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State?
In other news today, it was reported that exit polls taken on election day indicate that if Hillary Clinton had been the Democratic nominee, that she would have one the election by 10 points. Obama won by 7 points. I find it hard to believe that she might have won by a larger margin than Obama, as reported at Talk Left:
I do not think anyone can really doubt Clinton would have won the Presidency. She surely would have won Ohio and Florida more easily than Obama did. She would not have won Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana or Colorado though.
How Hillary Would Have Done
Update: Here's the report that Andrea Mitchell filed with MSNBC. It finally showed up online:
Two Obama advisers have told NBC News that Hillary Clinton is under consideration to be secretary of state. Would she be interested? Those who know Clinton say possibly. But her office says that any decisions about the transition are up to the president-elect and his team.
Clinton was seen taking a flight to Chicago today, but an adviser says it was on personal business. It is unknown whether she had any meeting or conversation with Obama while there.
Other Democrats known to want the State Department post are Sen. John Kerry and Gov. Bill Richardson. A possible compromise choice would be former Sen. Tom Daschle.
Hillary for State?
Update II: CNN is now picking up the story that Andrea Mitchell at MSNBC first broke. The CNN reporting makes this report sound like a big rumor and conjecture more than a possible outcome:
Two sources close to the Obama transition team tell CNN that Senator Hillary Clinton’s name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Secretary of State.
(snip)
On Monday night, while walking into an awards ceremony in New York, Senator Clinton was asked if she would consider taking a post in the Obama administration. She replied, "I am happy being a Senator from New York, I love this state and this city. I am looking at the long list of things I have to catch up on and do. But I want to be a good partner and I want to do everything I can to make sure his agenda is going to be successful."
Hillary Clinton's name mentioned as possible Secretary of State
Update III: Walter Shapiro at Salon has an interesting article up about waiting for the announcement of the Obama picks for his cabinet.
What we do know so far is that a Clinton pedigree appears to be a major asset. Not only did Obama's incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, make his bones in the Clinton White House, but also all six transition team leaders for the departments of State, Defense and Treasury served in the prior Democratic administration. Bill Galston, who was a senior domestic advisor to Clinton, points out, "One of the advantages that Obama has that Clinton did not have is a usable past. The Clinton transition went too far in excluding people with Jimmy Carter experience."
(snip)
Transition, of course, would not be transition without the Hillary Clinton rumor of the week. Steve Clemons, who directs the American strategy program at the New American Foundation, says there are hints that Clinton may be under consideration for the secretary of state post, stressing that she certainly passes the experience threshold. "It would be an unbelievably brilliant move by Obama if she would do it," he says. The Washington Post's transition column picked up the same vibrations Thursday and floated an item.
(snip)
But, if history is any gauge, these Washington games of telephone invariably end up with the wrong number in picking a Cabinet. That is why it would be folly to completely dismiss other candidates for secretary of state such as New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (the Democratic Party's version of "always a bridesmaid") and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (who was the only non-Chicagoan seriously considered for White House chief of staff).
Awaiting Obama's top lieutenants
I must confess that the one Cabinet post that I'm interested in hearing about, that nobody seems to be mentioning is Attorney General. I want to know who it is that is going to be in charge of cleaning up the complete politicization of the Department of Justice by the Bush Administration.
Update IV: Rachel Maddow opened her show tonight with the flat out statement that this information was intentionally leaked by the Obama Transition Team:
The Obama Transition folks have been leaking to the press like a sieve unlike they ever did on the campaign. This has been new during the transition. But tonight they leaked something interesting enough on its own right to make some real big headlines. Barack Obama is reportedly considering Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. That bomb shell from Andrea Mitchell tonight.
During the interview with Andrea Mitchell, Mitchell said:
Hillary Clinton has been mentioned as someone who is under consideration. She was seen taking a flight to Chicago today. An adviser said that was unrelated, that that was on a personal trip. We don't know whether she had conversations with Barack Obama about this, but it would seem that it wouldn't be mentioned to me that she was under consideration unless it was fairly serious, Rachel, because to pass her over for this after passing her over for the Vice Presidency would certainly be, shall we say, awkward.
:::::
I realize that the Obama team is not much on leaking, and that reporters are desperate for news to report. I finally had to turn off MSNBC this afternoon because they spent so much time covering Palin at the meeting of the Republican Governors in Florida. I wish that the Obama Team would start making some announcements so that we can get off of Palin, already!
So do you think this was one of those intentional leaks that test the waters? Or was it just wishful reporting because there is such a lack of news coming from the Obama Team?