Podesta: ‘Multiple Republicans’ in Obama Administration
With the expected announcement next week that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will remain on the job following President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, Obama-Biden transition director John Podesta said there will be more Republicans serving in the new administration.
During an interview with Al Hunt of Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital” airing today, Podesta said Obama will likely name “virtually the whole Cabinet” by Christmas.
From Bloomberg:
“„["]There will be ‘multiple Republicans’ in the administration,” Podesta said. “You’ll see them spread throughout the administration.”
The transition team has scheduled a press conference Monday, at which Obama is expected to name his choices for the top national-security positions in his administration, including Gates and his former primary rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as secretary of state.
Among the Republicans mentioned as possible candidates for positions within the Obama administration are former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.).