AP has the story this morning:
Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal says Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has canceled a Monday meeting with legislative leaders.
The news Friday came amid speculation about Sebelius as a potential nominee for U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services.
O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, said he doesn’t know what to make of the cancellation. The Democratic governor meets regularly with legislative leaders, and her latest session was set for 8 a.m. Monday.
My thoughts on this speculation follow below.
For one I am honored that my Governor Sebelius is being considered, and no doubt she would do very well in the HHS position. I am personally pulling for Howard Dean, however, primarily because I see him as being a bit more of a progressive and would push his positions a little more than Sebelius. Nevertheless I know she would do well.
I am a little troubled, however, given the polls in my state of Kansas clearly indicating she has a comfortable lead against both GOP nominees for the Senate position that Brownback is leaving. I think she could very well maintain this lead throughout the campaign and win the seat despite Kansas being a very Red state. And the fact that she has been ducking reporters on the Cabinet position is a little troubling, despite her initial firm stance on staying in Kansas when Daschle was the nominee (and yes, strangely it has that Roy Williams leaving to UNC feeling to it - kinda weird to us Lawrence folks).
So my question is, if she has such a great position to gain us a Democratic seat in Kansas, the first Democratic seat given since 1939 in this state, why would Obama give that potential up when he could have that post filled by a terrific candidate like Dean? Seems to also run a little counter to the 50 State Strategy as well, doesn't it?
Added in Edit: Forgot one minor albeit important point - perhaps this is a bit too much speculation by the AP, driven in part by GOP legislatures who would love nothing more than Sebelius out of Kansas?