Obama May Seek Republican for Cabinet

By JEFF ZELENY and CARL HULSE
New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama and his advisers have approached Senator Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire, about becoming commerce secretary, a step that could open the way to significant shift in the balance of power in Congress.

If Mr. Gregg accepted the post, he would probably be replaced by a Democrat. Now, there are 58 Democrats in the Senate, with the number rising to 59 if Al Franken of Minnesota is seated after the court challenge to his race is completed. The replacement of Mr. Gregg could give Democrats 60 seats, the number needed to control the legislative agenda without the threat of Republican filibusters.

Earlier this week, Mr. Gregg was quoted praising the president as “a tour de force.” Asked Thursday about his interest in the commerce job, Mr. Gregg said he would not discuss it.

“I can’t tell you anything,” said Mr. Gregg, the ranking Republican on the Budget Committee. “I have no comment.”

Mr. Gregg is nearing the end of his third term in the Senate, and faces re-election in 2010. Should he accept the position, New Hampshire’s governor, John Lynch, a Democrat, would appoint his successor and would be likely to pick a Democrat.

The possibility was a surprise to some of Mr. Gregg’s Republican colleagues, who at the moment have the bare minimum number of senators to raise procedural hurdles to Democratic measures. If Democrats captured a 60th seat, it would give them added muscle to push Mr. Obama’s agenda.

The post of commerce secretary is the only remaining position in Mr. Obama’s cabinet for which there is no nominee. It became vacant last month after Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico withdrew his name in the wake of a federal investigation into state government contracts.

Bill Burton, a White House spokesman, said Thursday evening that “the president has still not made his pick.” A senior administration official said the commerce secretary position had not been narrowed down to a sole finalist. Sphere: Related Content