Kurtz: Obama to tap Sanjay Gupta as surgeon general

Another unconventional choice from President-Elect Obama, as Howard Kurtz reports that CNN's Sanjay Gupta appears on the road to be tapped as surgeon general:

President-elect Barack Obama has offered the job of surgeon general to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and correspondent for CNN and CBS, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

According to Kurtz, Gupta and Obama met to discuss the position in November. Gupta also spoke with Obama's HHS Secretary designee Tom Daschle.

During the 1990s, according to Kurtz, Gupta was a White House fellow who helped craft Hillary Clinton's speeches and policy recommendations.

There is discussion going on about the choice of Gupta in jamgirl86's diary.