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Obama interviews 'team of rivals'
President-elect Barack Obama is interviewing some of his one-time political opponents as he ponders building his own "team of rivals" to help him run the country.
- AP
- Published: 23:41 November 15, 2008
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Washington: President-elect Barack Obama is interviewing some of his one-time political opponents as he ponders building his own "team of rivals" to help him run the country.
Primary election foes Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson both have been interviewed for secretary of state, according to several Democratic officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secret meetings.
Obama met Richardson late on Friday afternoon, a day after conferring one-on-one with Clinton at his Chicago office, the officials said. He plans to meet there tomorrow with his Republican opponent, John McCain, but advisers to both of the general election candidates say they do not expect Obama to consider McCain for an administration job.
On Saturday, Obama urged Congress to get moving next week on an economic rescue plan that would extend jobless benefits among other actions.
"If Congress does not pass an immediate plan that gives the economy the boost it needs, I will make it my first order of business as president," Obama said in his Democratic Party's weekly radio address.
The radio address was also videotaped and being posted online through a YouTube link to Obama's transition website, www.change.gov. The president-elect plans to continue to record online videos of the addresses after he takes the oath of office on January 20.
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Obama said he was pleased President George W. Bush brought world leaders to Washington to discuss turmoil in the financial markets, "because our global economic crisis requires a coordinated global response".
Obama's meeting with Clinton excited a burst of speculation that Obama would transform the former first lady and fierce primary campaign foe into one of his top Cabinet officials and the nation's chief diplomatic voice.
But where the New York senator stands in contention for the post came into question as other Democrats, also speaking on condition of anonymity about the private discussions, said Richardson was brought in as well.
Washington (AP) Former President Bill Clinton's globe-trotting deals and fundraising for his foundation sometimes put his activities abroad at odds with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and it could cause complications for her if Barack Obama considers her to be secretary of state.
During her own campaign, the New York senator criticised China for its crackdown on protesters in Tibet. Her campaign was embarrassed by reports that her husband's foundation raised money from a Chinese web firm that posted an online government "Most Wanted" notice seeking information on Tibetan activists.
His foundation reaped millions from Canadian mining tycoon Frank Giustra, whose human-rights record Senator Clinton had criticised.
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