Reports were running rampant last night that Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) is being considered, and that he himself might be considering, a nomination by President Obama to serve as Commerce Secretary. Given the amount of news outlets reporting this story, and the fact that none of them have found sufficient evidence to shoot it down, I’m convinced it’s a possibility.
With that, the question is who replaces Gregg in the Senate? We all know the numbers by now. If Al Franken prevails in the never-ending Minnesota recount, the Gregg replacement could give Democrats 60. I emphasize the word could because New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, who is a Democrat, might not appoint a member from his own party to the seat.
Campaign Diaries notes several stories that suggest Lynch may appoint a Republican, while noting that the Governor is seen as a “moderate-to-conservative” in his political views.
First Read says that there are rumors of “a deal between Obama/Gregg and Lynch to appoint a caretaker Republican” to the seat until 2010 when a special election would be held. Since Democratic prospects are currently looking pretty good in two years, especially in a Democratic-trending state like New Hampshire, Lynch and Obama could be “open to a deal that keeps a Republican in the seat until November 2010, since getting that 60th Senate seat in the coming years seems probable.”
Update: Politico reports that Gregg has confirmed he is a candidate for the Commerce position.
“I am aware that my name is one of those being considered by the White House for Secretary of Commerce, and am honored to be considered, along with others, for the position,” he said in a statement. “Beyond that there is nothing more I can say at this time.”
Congress in Your Pocket
