Nov 22, 2008 11:23 am US/Eastern
Clinton Soon To Be Madam Secretary
Sources: As Part Of Arrangement, Bill Clinton Must Submit Speeches, Travel Itineraries To White House
Exclusive: Suozzi, Cuomo, Even RFK Jr. May Head For Albany
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New York's junior senator will leave Albany for Washington, D.C. after accepting the position of Secretary of State on President-elect Barack Obama's administration Friday.
Emmanuel Dunand/Getty Images
CBS 2 has learned that Hillary Clinton will accept President-elect Barack Obama's offer to become Secretary of State.
Political Reporter Marcia Kramer has confirmed that Clinton will leave the Senate and join forces with the man she went toe-to-toe with during a bruising primary election.
The official announcement won't come until after Thanksgiving.
Clinton wouldn't answer any questions on the subject Thursday night in Harlem, but sources say she is all set to pack her bags and kiss New York goodbye once Obama announces his choice shortly after Thanksgiving.
Friday's decision comes a week after the two met secretly in Chicago.
As part of the arrangement, former President Bill Clinton will have to submit his speeches and travel itineraries to the White House for approval.
Reports say Obama is also likely to name Federal Reserve Governor Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary next week.
An official close to the senator says the New York Federal Reserve president is the leading contender for the job and is likely to be nominated Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Obama hasn't finalized his decision.
The development comes as Obama prepares for how he will grapple with a collapsing economy. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is under serious consideration to be commerce secretary.
Geithner has played a key role in the government's response to the financial crisis and worked closely with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
Just 17 days ago, Sen. Clinton told Kramer unequivocally that she would not join Obama's administration if he won the election.
"I'm not interested in serving in the administration," she said Election Day morning. "I want to roll up my sleeves and be a good partner in the Senate for the agenda that I hope will be successful in the next two years."
But power is seductive and Clinton obviously did the math. Junior Senator from New York has a lot less clout than Secretary of State, and although the Obama people are guarded, it's clear they want her.
"She's obviously a talented public official and someone who would enhance any team," said David Axelrod, an Obama senior advisor.
With Clinton headed to Washington, speculation is rampant about who Gov. David Paterson will choose to succeed her. Sources tell CBS 2 he's intent on doing what's politically expedient for himself, picking someone who will enhance his chances of reelection.
On the front-runners list are:
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who gives Paterson Long Island support
Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, a "two-fer" as a woman and a Latina
Hudson Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the favorite in a recent Marist poll
And the dark horse, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a sentimental choice who spoke only two days ago at the renaming of the Triborough Bridge for his father.
"We are a community in this country and New York is the paradigm for the other states in this country about how a people with outside differences can work together," Kennedy said Wednesday.
Paterson, of course, won't have to pick until after Clinton officially resigns her seat.
Whoever replaces her will only serve a short time before having to face voters twice in a special election in 2010 to fill her unexpired term, and again in 2012 for a new term.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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