Obama Cabinet Poll - Sec. of State (Runoff)

With the Obama Veepstakes poll now concluded and Gov. Bill Richardson as your chosen running mate (which was covered by the Santa Fe Reporter) it's time to take this a step further:

Who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet?

Today you can vote on the next Secretary of State in the runoff of yesterday's top two vote getters:

Here are the winners of previous rounds:

Vice President: Bill Richardson

Here's the list of current cabinet positions and cabinet level administration offices that will be polled in the coming weeks:

Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security

White House Chief of Staff
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of the National Drug Control Policy
United States Trade Representative

Who will be included: a maximum of 15 candidates (max number of positions in Dkos polls), I'll try to make each round as diverse as possible, always keeping in mind competence and knowledge required for the respective position. Therefore, I'll include men and women, minorities, sitting and former elected officials, appointed officials, academics, people from the non-profit and private sectors, Obama as well as Clinton supporters, and, yes, also Republicans and Independents.

Yesterday's results:

Total votes cast: 293

1. Joe Biden 38% (112 votes)

2. Chuck Hagel 9% (28 votes)

3. Susan Rice 8% (26 votes)

4. John Kerry 7% (23 votes)

5. Chris Dodd 7% (22 votes)

6. Wesley Clark 6% (18 votes)

7. Dick Lugar 5% (17 votes)

8. Sam Nunn 5% (15 votes)

9. Richard Holbrooke 3% (11 votes)

10. Hillary Clinton 2% (7 votes)

11. William Cohen 1% (5 votes)

11. Anthony Lake 1% (5 votes)

13. Barbara Boxer 0% (2 votes)

14. David Scheffer 0% (1 vote)

15. Strobe Talbott 0% (1 vote)

Today's candidates in the runoff for Secretary of State are (in alphabetical order, links lead to bio):

Sen. Joe Biden (DE), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Note: Bill Richardson is not included in this poll because he already won the VP poll. A candidate needs 50% or more to win, otherwise a run-off between the top two will be held the following day.

I would also like to ask you to nominate candidates for all cabinet positions not yet polled, for several of them I'm still well short of 15 candidates.

Enjoy voting!

•  nominate for future rounds!

  I'm still looking for nominations for future rounds. I'm especially still lacking candidates for:

  Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  White House Chief of Staff
  Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
  Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  Director of the National Drug Control Policy
  United States Trade Representative

  You can of course also nominate for all other positions. Thanks.

  by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:11:39 AM PDT

  •  veteran's affairs

    if webb's seat was safe i'd say toss webb that bone.  but since it's probably not, how about wes clark?

    by anna on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:44:45 AM PDT

    •  Tammy Duckworth

      for Veterans' Affairs.

      by Pragmaticus on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:49:08 AM PDT

      •  thanks

        got all three of them on my list.

        by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:51:57 AM PDT

        •  Secretary of Energy...

          This is also an important position.  Especially considering environmental and nuclear concerns.  May I suggest Hazel R. O'Leary?  I was rather impressed by her work.  Especially her crack down on the DOE and waste.

          Of course she didn't apply that to her own expenses.  But she did help.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/...

          She won early plaudits for declassifying Cold War-era records showing that the U.S. Government had used American citizens as guinea pigs in human radiation experiments, which was in response to President Clinton's Executive Order 12891 which created the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments (ACHRE).

          by Lava20 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:06:17 AM PDT

  •  Here are some

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs

    Max Cleland

    Bob Kerry (ugg but it could happen)

    White House Chief of Staff
    James Johnson (headed the Kerry VP selection and will probably do the same for Obama, Mondale campaign manager, longtime power broker)  

    Tom Daschle (one of Obama's first big backers. Knows the Senate)

    Valerie Jarrett (close freind of the Obama's. One of the most powerful people in Chicago.)

    Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

    RFK Jr. (need I say more?)

    Terry Tamminen (Cali climate change guru)

    Carol M. Browner (ran the EPA under Clinton. Close Gore ally)

    Director of the Office of Management and Budget

    Rep. Bobby Scott (was rumored to be Dean's pick, serves on the budget committee)

    Bill Bradley (he's a policy wonk and Obama guy. Why not a wonky position like this? He did lots of budget work in the Senate)

    Director of the National Drug Control Policy

    No idea. How about Mark Kleiman

    United States Trade Representative

    Daniel K. Tarullo. Close Obama adviser and has the Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy on his resume that gets him qualified.

    Gene Sperling He was a big Clintonite and so he probably isn't going to get the big job of Sec of Treasury but is also well known and liked in economic circles so he is going to have some role. This doesn't seem like a bad one.

    Also it would be nice if you showed us what you have for the next round right before it is done so we can add any names. I think Treasury Secretary is next so I would like to nominate Leo Hindery, Jr.

    by Populista on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 11:15:54 AM PDT

    •  Thanks

      some great suggestions. I'll look at them and will surely add at least some of them. I won't publish all names for the coming rounds before hands, simply because I have more names than poll slots for some. I've already got 20+ for Treasury and will have to cut some. Not sure yet who. I simply want to avoid getting yelled at for cutting some people. In any case, Hindery wasn't on my list yet but I'll check him out. Also, Treasury is a really diverse list, I'd really like to see a non-white male here, personally, for the first time. A lot of great female candidates, too. Again, thanks for your suggestions!

      by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 11:52:41 AM PDT

  •  Treasury

    Please see here for Sec/Treas nominations:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:21:13 AM PDT

  •  Veteran Affairs Nominations

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:24:22 AM PDT

  •  Chief of Staff nominations

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:25:27 AM PDT

  •  EPA Nominations

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:26:22 AM PDT

  •  OMB Nomination

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:27:26 AM PDT

  •  Drug Control Nominations

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:28:33 AM PDT

  •  Trade Rep Nominations

    Please see here for compilation:

    http://www.vizu.com/...

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:29:40 AM PDT

  •  Other Nominations

    I only list here the ones you need most.  You may access nomination lists for all cabinet positions and other important posts here: http://puredem.wordpress.com/
    (click on position listed in side bar)
    Good luck!

    by Phil Jamison on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 11:32:54 AM PDT

•  Winning Indiana for Secretary of State

  and winning North Carolina for Secretary of Defense

  by dansac on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:13:32 AM PDT

•  AG...

  Russ Feingold.

  You may not even need a poll for that one :)

  --jake

  by flvorful on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:13:33 AM PDT

  •  My two cents...

    I like Edwards as AG.  We need to keep Feingold in the Senate.

    Peace.

    by noddem on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:16:22 AM PDT

    •  Edwards not qualified for AG. He's SG material.

      I've asked lawyer friends who were JE supporters. He doesn't have criminal or constitutional experience. Solicitor General is the better match, I'm told.

      by pat208 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:32:12 AM PDT

      •  I doubt

        he'd take SG since it's so low profile. If he doesn't win the AG poll he'll be up for Labor as well.

        by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:34:47 AM PDT

        •  I, too, doubt he'd take SG.

          But I don't think there's any way he'd be offered AG.

          by pat208 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:04:02 AM PDT

  •  He'll be in

    but you'd be surprised. In a previous nomination thread a lot of commenters wanted him to rather stay in the Senate. Plus, there are a lot of other very qualified candidates out there.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:16:46 AM PDT

    •  ya, me too

      i would like Feingold to stay in the senate, but he is so steadfast in his constitutional beliefs that i think he would make the best AG.

      I do want to take a look at Eric Holder.  Anyone have any links for him besides Wikipedia?

      ---jake

      by flvorful on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:37:58 AM PDT

  •  Eric Holder

    will be AG if Barack Obama is elected president.

    Count on it.

    by Populista on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:54:39 AM PDT

    •  Holder is solid......

      plus he's already worked in Justice.

      by pharoah on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:03:14 AM PDT

      •  Plus he is a close freind of Obama

        A national co-chair of his campaign and his top adviser on those issues.

        by Populista on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:58:49 PM PDT

•  Stuart Eizenstat

  for Treasury. Very qualified Deputy in Clinton Admin.

  Hagel Sec Def

  by optimist on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:20:20 AM PDT

  •  Jared Bernstein. n/t

    by revgerry on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:04:31 AM PDT

•  Neither

  by JeremiahTheMessiah on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:20:32 AM PDT

•  No Senators need apply

  Why risk losing the majority?

  by BOHICA on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:22:36 AM PDT

  •  that's not entirely correct

    a lot of Senators would be replaced by Democrats, depending on the laws in their state and/or the party affiliation of the Governor. Remember that in Wyoming the Democratic governor had to appoint a Republican. So, it's not that simple.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:24:32 AM PDT

•  Just an opinion .

  They should be diverse , but yet plausible .

  by ArtfromMI on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:27:07 AM PDT

  •  they will be

    next up will be Treasury and I've got a pretty diverse and qualified list.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:31:16 AM PDT

•  Gore?

  EPA

  Clark/Webb-VA Affairs

  by hopeful on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:29:13 AM PDT

  •  those are the obvious candidates

    I'm really looking for less obvious choices that I'm not thinking of.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:32:13 AM PDT

•  God!

  I don't like either of those choices.  Not voting, sorry.

  by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:30:53 AM PDT

  •  that's okay

    I can understand. There was a very tight race for the second spot in the runoff. John Kerry and Susan Rice were very close to Hagel.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:33:24 AM PDT

    •  I strongly support...

      Joe Lieberman (R-CT) for Secretary of Hypocrisy.

      He's particularly well qualified for this positon.  Proven track record.

      by Lava20 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:11:22 AM PDT

•  Zbigniew Brzezinski

  It looks like you have more Clinton advisors there than actual Obama advisors and supporters.

  Zbigniew Brzezinski
  Mark Brzezinski
  Greg Craig
  Lawrence Korb
  Richard Clarke

  by acerimusdux on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:33:53 AM PDT

  •  well

    Brzezinski is simply too old. You can't put an 80 year old in a jetsetting cabinet position. I doubt there actually ever was an 80 year old cabinet member actually. As for the Clinton advisors. I'm not even sure which of the ones polled yesterday are and which are not. Naturally, a lot of the qualified people held positions in the last Democratic cabinet. And a lot of them endorsed Clinton. That's really all it is.

    As it is, I already have Korb on the Defense list, and Clarke on the Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security lists. I'll take a look at the others.

    by Sven at My Silver State on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:39:28 AM PDT

    •  Well.....

      Bzrezinski/Carter helped get us in this mess with the Mujahadeen in the 80s maybe he can help get us out of it.

      by pharoah on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:41:54 AM PDT

    •  Fair enough

      I realize it's hard to narrow it down, and you are trying to include a broad range, including Republicans and Clinton supporters, with the idea that Obama will want to reach out in effort to unify people with some of his cabinet choices.

      But, I doubt you will see any Clinton supporters who were also Iraq hawks, like Holbrooke and Talbott, chosen.

      I think any of Obama's inner circle on foreign policy, chiefly Susan Rice, Anthonoy Lake, Greg Craig, and Lawrence Korb, would be a more likely choice here.

      by acerimusdux on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:56:28 AM PDT

•  Here's mine

  Secretary of State: Susan Rice
  Secretary of Defense: Carl Levin
  Attorney General: John Edwards
  Secretary of Treasury: Alan Blinder
  Secretary of Labor: Richard Gephardt

  by pharoah on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:35:00 AM PDT

•  biden again? good god

  i'll say what i said on the last thread: biden DOES NOT and never has had the temperment to be SoS.  think back to all the ones you can remember and compare them to biden.  i mean, come on people.

  besides, his foreign policy cred would be much better utilised as SecDef.  he obviously knows his shit, but he's not a good fit for SoS.

  by anna on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:43:44 AM PDT

•  Erg

  Richardson is my choice but he is already VP.

  Otherwise it would be been Susan Rice but I didn't vote yesterday so I have to go with Chuck Hagel. I don't like the idea at all but he won't take a Senate seat away from the Democrats and on many issues he is just as good or better then Biden.

  Biden of course will get it but oh well.

  by Populista on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:53:44 AM PDT

  •  Why Hagel?

    If you have to have a Repub as Sec State why not Lugar? Hagel has seemed less hawkish in recent months but I still dont see him as Sec State.

    by pharoah on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:59:34 AM PDT

•  why can't I vote for Bill Richardson

  He'd be dreadful on the campaign trail, but a great secretary of state

  by max stirner on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:56:03 AM PDT

•  Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland

  by earicicle on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:23:54 AM PDT

•  Health & Human Services: Howard Dean

  He would also rock as head of the FDA or the CDC. Put the bulldog doc in charge of something!

  by earicicle on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:25:33 AM PDT

•  Who is Eric Holder?

  I think that Deval Patrick is a strong potential AG contender.
  As for Vet Affairs, I know Duckworth is a veteran with a great story but is she a qualified administrator?  I'd say Jim Marshall if it weren't for losing his House seat, he is very knowledgeable on veteran issues.
  EPA admin I don't know.  
  OMB should be Matt Miller author of The Two Percent Solution.
  Drug control and Trade Rep I don't know.
  COH should be Sam Nunn.

  by Liberal Lion on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:29:26 AM PDT

•  COS, sorry.

  by Liberal Lion on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:29:40 AM PDT