WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton emerged Friday as a top contender to be secretary of State after flying to Chicago the day before and meeting privately with President-elect Barack Obama, former advisors to the senator from New York said.
Obama is weighing other prominent elected officials for the post of the nation's top diplomat, but has zeroed in on the former first lady and runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to one of her campaign aides.
Many of Clinton's allies would like her to take the job, even though it would mean giving up her independent power base in the Senate. "She could weld this world together," said Susie Tompkins Buell, a Clinton donor and friend. "I think it would be amazing."
Since losing the hard-fought primary to Obama, Clinton has been on his radar. She made Obama's short list for vice president, but lost out to Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.
Having passed over Clinton once, Obama would be hard-pressed to do it again by dangling the secretary of State's job and then giving it to someone else, members of Clinton's circle said.
"Having trifled with her on the vice presidency, it seems unlikely he's going to trifle with her on this," said one former Clinton advisor, who like other Clinton associates requested anonymity to be able to speak more openly.
Clinton's Senate office referred questions to the Obama transition headquarters. "Any speculation about Cabinet or other administration appointments is really for President-elect Obama's transition team to address," said Philippe Reines, a Clinton spokesman.
Obama's office declined to comment.
Former President Clinton's staff also would not comment, except to say that he had not been making phone calls to push for his wife's nomination.
Other candidates for secretary of State include Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), the party's 2004 presidential nominee; and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who met Friday with Obama, a Democratic official said.
Obama is running a closed-mouthed transition operation, so it is difficult to assess the seriousness of Clinton's chances. Obama's team could be floating the prospect as a trial balloon to gauge public reaction. Or Clinton's allies may be talking up the possibility in hopes of influencing public opinion and improving her chances.
One thing is clear: Obama has done nothing to bat down speculation that Clinton may take one of the premier Cabinet posts in his administration.
