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Team Obama grows

Daniel Korski

Thursday, 20th November 2008

In contrast to the leak-proof first week, Obama’s transition team has been less successful more recently in keeping a lid on his staff appointments and nominations. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will be nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services while, Eric Holder, a lawyer in the Clinton Justice Department, has been tapped to be Attorney-General.

There have been more White House appointments too. David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s chief strategist, will serve in the Rovian position as “Senior Advisor to the President”; Lisa Brown will serve as Staff Secretary; Greg Craig will serve as White House Counsel; and Chris Lu will serve as Cabinet Secretary. Still to come is who will be Obama’s spokesperson.

Though it seems sensible to build the White House team first and a Cabinet second - and Obama can do little to prevent leaks - it is unfortunate that he has not been able to push out key national security and economic appointments before others.