Obama to Offer Clinton State Job, Seriously This Time

The Associated Press reported late Thursday that President-elect Barack Obama is expected to officially offer the post of secretary of state to his former primary rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, just after Thanksgiving, according to “an aide to the transition.”

The transition aide told The Associated Press that the two camps have worked out financial disclosure issues involving Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the complicated international funding of his foundation that operates in 27 countries. The aide said Obama and Hillary Clinton have had substantive conversations about the secretary of state job.

Clinton has been mulling the post for several days, but the transition aide’s comments suggested that Obama’s team does not feel she is inclined to turn it down.

Politico’s Mike Allen confirms the report, citing a pair of “senior Obama aides.”

Considering previous reports usually cited unnamed “Democratic officials,” it appears the leakers are becoming more senior, which presumably means the information is becoming more accurate. It also suggests the transition team’s leak problem is getting worse, despite recent threats that anyone caught leaking would be fired.