WASHINGTON — Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) is the leading candidate to become President Obama's Commerce secretary, an administration official said Saturday, adding that a decision could come as early as Monday.
Gregg's appointment would add another Republican to Obama's Cabinet at a time when the president is preaching bipartisanship and working to build GOP support for his agenda.
It would also have the potential to tip the balance of power in the Senate: New Hampshire's governor, a Democrat, could name a Democrat to succeed Gregg.
Depending on the outcome of the contested Senate race in Minnesota, a Democratic appointee from New Hampshire could give the party 60 seats in the Senate, counting the two independents who caucus with Democrats -- enough to shut down Republican filibusters and smooth the way for Obama's plans whether there is bipartisan support for them or not.
A spokesman for Gov. John Lynch declined to discuss possible candidates for the potential Senate opening. Right now, said spokesman Colin Manning, "this is between the White House and Sen. Gregg."
A spokeswoman for Gregg also refused to discuss the possibility.
Still, reports circulated that Republicans were trying to work out a deal with Lynch to keep the seat in their party's hands if Gregg vacates it. Democrats think they would stand to benefit whether or not he was succeeded by a Democrat, reasoning that a Republican newcomer would be easier to defeat next year.
The Obama economic team would be adding a strong voice for business in Gregg, 61, the lead GOP negotiator on last year's $700-billion financial bailout. A 16-year veteran of the Senate and ranking member of its budget committee, Gregg is a fiscal conservative from a state with a noted aversion to government spending and taxes. (He also has the distinction of having won $853,492 in the Powerball lottery in 2005.)
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, was Obama's first choice for the job. Richardson took himself out of contention not long after his nomination, citing a grand jury investigation into how state contracts have been issued during his tenure.
Gregg's appointment could change not just the Senate, but the overall power equilibrium in Washington.
Obama has been reaching out to Republicans for weeks now and speaking of the importance of cooperation. He named Ray LaHood -- a Republican congressman from Illinois -- as Transportation secretary, and asked Robert M. Gates, President Bush's Defense secretary, to stay on. The Pentagon chief is a registered independent but says he considers himself a Republican.
