KS-Gov, KS-Sen: Obama Wants Sebelius for HHS

[ccharles000]

http://swingstateproject.com

Very disappointing:

President Obama has settled on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, a key ally with a record of working across party lines, as his top choice for secretary of health and human services, advisers said Wednesday. <...>
It remained unclear whether the White House would finish vetting Ms. Sebelius in time to finalize her nomination by next week. Advisers described her as "the leading candidate" and said there were no others to mention, although they emphasized no final decision has been made. After the troubles with Mr. Daschle and other recent nominees, the White House has intensified its vetting to make sure it thoroughly scrubs its choices before Mr. Obama gives the final signoff.

Assuming Sebelius is nominated and accepts the gig (and you would think she would have publicly declined by now if she were not willing to serve), Democrats will have a pretty barren shelf of possible candidates for the state's open Senate race in 2010. What a bummer.

SSP currently has this race on our list of Races to Watch, but it's hard to see how this contest heats up without the presence of Sebelius.

[FLAprogressive]

1. Say it with me folks: D-L-C! We don't want a true reformer in who might upset big insurance/pharma!

[MadBadger]

3. You know, Hillary is said to be DLC, but I dont know many who would be upset if she was HHS

SO I dont really understand the DLC slam here.

[FLAprogressive]

6. I would be, for starters.

[democrattotheend]

8. I believe Sebelius is fairly progressive

I remember reading that she has been surprisingly progressive for a red state like Kansas. Now, that might not mean she'd be considered progressive in New York or Vermont, but I do know that she refused to take money from insurance companies when she ran for state insurance commissioner, so that's a very positive sign in considering her for HHS.

[MadBadger]

2. I like the pick, though this will set off the "Dean is the Only person Qualified" Crowd.

[DURHAM D]

4. Wouldn't the Gov be in a better position to run for the Senate if she stays where she is? eom

[MadBadger]

5. Do we know if she even wants to run? If she accepts, its clear she wants this more.

[DURHAM D]

7. I hope she wants to run as part of the 30% solution. eom

[FrenchieCat]

9. I like the pick!

She was term limited anyways, and her term is over in 2010.

Also, she just was able to resolve a crisis like yesterday dealing with a controlled Republican state house and senate.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGIgMQ6KdGHUR7mOjWMM9ZXRgUFQD96EA63O0

[Thrill]

10. If she wanted to be a Senator, she wouldn't have filled out the vetting papers

[SheilaT]

11. I understand that early on

right after Obama was elected, Sebelius made it clear she wanted to remain as Governor because she wanted to run for the Senate in 2010. I also understand that the Lt. Governor, Mark Parkinson -- who was several years ago the Kansas State Republican Party Chair and who Sebelius persuaded to change parties to be her Lt Governor -- does not plan to run for Governor himself when Sebelius's term would end.

I don't see anyone on the Kansas Democratic Political scene who can possibly make a viable run for Governor in two years, and it's scary. Rumor is that Brownback, who intends to retire from the Senate in two years (and it's his seat that Kathleen is expected to seek) will run for Governor. God help Kansas if he wins.

On the other hand, Kathleen Sebelius was Insurance Commissioner for several years before she ran for Governor and did a phenomenal job.