Judd Gregg

President Obama plans to nominate Sen. Judd Gregg as Commerce secretary today, the White House confirmed on the eve of the announcement as the New Hampshire Republican disclosed an apparent deal that would keep his seat out of Democrats' hands. "I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate," Gregg said Monday in a statement.

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.

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) is under consideration for the Commerce secretary post in President Obama's Cabinet, raising the prospect that Democrats could gain a filibuster-proof majority of 60 seats in the Senate, according to two officials familiar with the selection process. Gregg, who faces reelection in 2010, is one of several people under consideration for the remaining Cabinet post for which Obama has no nominee. New Mexico Gov.

Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who has emerged as the front-runner for Commerce secretary, assured fellow Republicans that he would not take the job unless he was certain his replacement would line up with the GOP caucus, the Senate's Republican leader said Sunday. President Obama is expected to announce Gregg's nomination as early as today.