Thursday, November 20, 2008

Janet Napolitano Asked to be Homeland Security Secretary

Update: Pritzker takes herself out of the running -vetting problems.
Also, Penny Pritzker has been asked to be commerce secretary. Pritzker won't mind a tax hike. She's the granddaughter of the founder of the Hyatt chain. She was Obama's national finance chair.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for homeland security secretary, according to multiple Democratic sources close to the transition.

Gov. Janet Napolitano is President-elect Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security, sources say.

One source said he believed the final decision depends on the vetting of the Democratic governor, much like the selection of Eric Holder to be attorney general.

Also, multiple Democratic sources say billionaire Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is Obama's choice for commerce secretary. Pritzker ran Barack Obama's record-breaking fundraising effort, serving as the campaign's finance chair.

The sources say Pritzker would accept the job, which would be formally offered after vetting is complete. But whether the rigors of the Obama vetting process will present a challenge to a businessperson with no record in public office -- and presumably extensive financial holdings -- is still a question