Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Obama Picks Tom Vilsack for Agriculture


Vilsack is a good sport, wearing a Pooh and an alligator outfit to support his wife Christie's literacy events. She's founder of the Vilsack Foundation. 
Update: 12-17 announcement video.
CNN: President-elect Barack Obama will name former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his secretary of Agriculture at a news conference scheduled for Wednesday, according to an Obama transition aide and a separate Democratic source.
Vilsack was a Hillary supporter in the primaries.
Here's where he stands on the issues.
Earlier, he had denied that he was going to be agriculture secretary. Surprise:
Des Moines Reg: Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack on Sunday said that he won't be the next agriculture secretary, ending speculation that an Iowan would snag the post important to a large swath of the state's economy.

In an e-mail, Vilsack said he had never been contacted by aides to President-elect Barack Obama about that position or any other.

"I would have to speculate that I was in fact in the running and further speculate as to why I was no longer. I do not think it prudent or appropriate to speculate about either," Vilsack said.
Today's story from the Des Moines Register.