Obama has hit the ground running. He's asked Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois), a former Clinton aide, to be his chief of staff, and he's appointed his transition team: Obama Turns to Building Leadership Team.
The transition team will be headed by former Clinton White House
Chief of Staff John Podesta, Chicago businesswoman and Obama family
confidante Valerie Jarrett, and Mr. Obama's Senate chief of staff, Pete
Rouse. The transition team is stacked with Chicago power brokers and
Clinton administration officials, such as former Clinton Commerce
Secretary William Daley and former State Department African specialist
Susan Rice.
It also features Harvard Law friends such as Michael Froman, a
former Treasury chief of staff, and Julius Genachowski, a former chief
counsel of the Federal Communications Commission. Arizona Gov. Janet
Napolitano is also onboard. Offices will be open in Washington by
Monday.
At least one expert thinks Obama showed a deft touch in setting up the team. Edward Luce reports (Treasury Chief is Obama's First Test):
Paul Light, a leading scholar of presidential transitions at New
York University, says that Mr Obama had already crossed the first
hurdle when he announced yesterday that he was integrating his
Washington-based transition team, headed by John Podesta, Mr Clinton’s
former chief of staff, with his Chicago-based campaign, headed by David
Plouffe.
Previous incoming presidents, including Bill Clinton,
allowed their transition teams and campaigns to fall out and complicate
life. By appointing Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and adviser from
Chicago, and Peter Rouse, his Senate chief of staff, to join Mr
Podesta, Mr Obama has already begun that integration.
This
reduces the chances that Mr Obama will make a mistake with a big
appointment. “One thing that always complicates a transition is that
you announce a big appointment and then that name goes sour and you
expend huge energy defending that name 1,000 per cent, then 200 per
cent and finally junk him or her altogether,” says Mr Light. “You have
to have your own systems in place to vet all the big names. If you
start screwing up you can waste huge amounts of political capital early
on.”
Here's a complete list of team members: Obama Sets Transition-team: Staff.
Meanwhile, Doug Palmer reports on speculation about the next USTR: Business awaits Obama decision on trade chief. This may take a while:
Obama is expected to move quickly to announce his selection for
Treasury secretary and other top economic slots. But typically the job
of U.S. trade representative is often one of the last to be filled.
Among the prospects:
