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Clinton's success hinges on entry into inner circle
Leaving the news conference in Chicago on Monday where he introduced his national security team, President-elect Barack Obama strolled out of the room arm in arm with his choice for secretary of state and one-time rival, Hillary Clinton.
- By Michael Abramowitz and Glenn Kessler, Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service
- Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
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Washington: Leaving the news conference in Chicago on Monday where he introduced his national security team, President-elect Barack Obama strolled out of the room arm in arm with his choice for secretary of state and one-time rival, Hillary Clinton.
The gesture may have been a subtle indication that Obama is aware that one of the biggest questions about his choice of Clinton is the kind of relationship they will be able to forge in the months ahead.
Many of the most successful secretaries of state, though not all, enjoyed great influence with their presidents, giving them leverage with foreign leaders and inside the national security establishment.
But Obama and Clinton are only starting to develop the kind of rapport that could lead to that trust, and the ultimate success of the senator from New York in her new role may depend as much on his willingness to admit her to his inner circle as her ability to master the intricacies of the Middle East peace process or North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, according to senior foreign policy officials.
Democrats familiar with the transition said the two have spent time over the past several weeks discussing the parameters of the job and how they would work together.
Clinton received assurances that she would have the kind of access to Obama she needs, as well as the authority to pick her own team. They said the Obama team would like her to select James Steinberg as her deputy, but that hardly seems a problem, since Steinberg worked closely with her husband as deputy national security adviser.
Ironically, Steinberg recently co-authored a book questioning the wisdom of appointing "all-stars" - foreign policy experts and prominent members of Congress with little connection to the new president - in key national security jobs. While such appointments can help foster a sense that a new president has made the transition from campaigning to governing, he pointed to numerous examples of such leading to discord and disappointment, especially in the Clinton years.
Support: Healthcare appeal
US state governors are meeting with President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday to press their case for at least $40 billion to help pay for health care for the poor and disabled and even more for infrastructure projects like road and bridge repair.
They are likely to get a sympathetic ear. The meeting in Philadelphia comes as Obama and Democrats controlling Congress are fashioning economic recovery legislation that could cost $500 billion or so. The measure is virtually certain to contain help for states struggling with slumping revenues and difficult budget cuts as the recession deepens.
- AP
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