Secretary Of Commerce U S

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 (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.

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.

President Obama is expected to select former Washington Gov. Gary Locke as Commerce secretary, a position the White House has had a difficult time filling. An administration official speaking on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been made public said the nomination could be announced this week. Locke would be Obama's third pick for the post. The first, New Mexico Gov.

Under Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown, travel expenses for the secretary's office have risen at least 145% over those of a well-traveled GOP predecessor, while many of Brown's aides are improperly using government credit cards for personal purchases, according to a confidential audit report obtained by The Times.

President Bush on Monday nominated Cuban-born Carlos M. Gutierrez, who rose from driving a truck for Kellogg Co. to become the breakfast giant's chairman, to be the next Commerce secretary. It was Bush's first appointment in what probably would be a wholesale revamping of his economic team, signaling a fresh start as the president prepared to launch two politically challenging initiatives: a restructuring of Social Security and an effort to change the tax code.