As the election draws closer, speculation in Washington about a possible Kerry cabinet or a newly shaped Bush cabinet has begun. National Journal assembled a large list of possible nominees for both teams.
On the Bush side, there won't be a huge shake-up on the domestic side of the cabinet. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who was earlier rumored to be on the outs, now may stay on for another tour, or possibly attempt to move to the Department of Tranportation, where he originally wished to reside. If Thompson leaves, current deputy secretary Claude Allen or the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mark McClellan (brother of current White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan) may both vie for the top spot. On the transportation front, DOT Secretary Norm Mineta, the lone Democrat in the cabinet, may be moving on, which would free up his slot for current Labor Secretary Elaine Chao or current Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. Others mentioned by National Journal include former deputy secretary Michael P. Jackson and current FAA chief Marion Blakely. On the education front, with Rod Paige likely stepping down, current White House education adviser Margaret Spellings is the front-runner for replacement. For labor, if Chao leaves, EEOC chair Cari Dominquez or George Salem (who was a part of Labor during the Reagan administration) are rumored to be interested.
The Kerry contingency brings a much higher amount of speculation, given that all of the spots would have to be filled with new faces. Starting with HHS, some names rumored to be in the mix include former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, both of whom have been campaigning vigorously for Kerry. Some names mentioned from the hill include retiring Senator Bob Graham (Florida) and Representative Dick Gephardt (Missouri), Minority Leader Tom Daschle (South Dakota) if he loses his re-election bid, Rep. Denise Majette (Georgia) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (New York). Outside of the Capitol, some possibilities are Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, Missouri governor Bob Holden, former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber, former representative Tom Downey (New York), or Jim Mongan, who currently heads a health care system in Massachusetts.
On the transportation side, several names were mentioned in the National Journal. From the hill, there's Representative James Oberstar (Minnesota), Mike Honda (California) and Earl Blumenauer (Oregon). Some Peyser clients were also mentioned, including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickles and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. Finally, former FAA chief Jane Garvey and Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm rounded out the list of possible DOT replacements for Mineta.
Kerry has promised to bring a labor leader in to head the Labor Department, with longtime labor friend Dick Gephardt included, as well as Richard Trunks, the current AFL-CIO secretary treasurer or Rep. Stephen Lynch (Massachusetts). Finally Harold Schaitberger, head of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which loudly backed Kerry from the beginning, has been mentioned as a strong contender for the top spot.
On the Housing and Urban Devlopment front, several mayors have been mentioned including Detroit's Dennis Archer, Boston's Tom Menino, Louisville's Jerry Abramson, former Seattle mayor Norm Rice, former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial and Atlanta's Shirley Franklin.
As the election day draws closer, jostling for position on both sides is expected to increase.