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Who would appear on Obama's cabinet list?

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-22 11:45

WASHINGTON -- Although US President-elect Barack Obama has yet to officially announce his cabinet makeup, US media this week made a series of guesses regarding the issue.

Secretary of State:

US Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) attend a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida, in this file image from October 20, 2008. Clinton has accepted an offer from President-elect Barack Obama to become US Secretary of State, the New York Times said on November 21, 2008. [Agencies]

Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady and current New York Senator, has reportedly accepted the offer to be the top diplomat in her former presidential rival's administration.

After losing the primaries, she announced her support for Obama and rallied her voters to stand behind him. She became the forerunner for the top diplomat post last week after meeting with Obama in his Chicago transition headquarters, discussing her role in the future government.

During her eight years in the White House with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, Madame Clinton has gained rich experience in global affairs. Some policy analysts think that if she becomes Secretary of Secretary, she would bring the country a more hawkish stance in foreign policies.

Commerce Secretary:

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson waves while speaking before Democratic presidential nominee US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008. President-elect Obama is expected to tap Richardson as US Secretary of Commerce, NBC News said on November 21, 2008. [Agencies]

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was reportedly picked as the best hopeful for the next commerce secretary.

He launched his bid for the White House last year as the country's first Hispanic candidate. After quitting the competitive Democratic presidential primaries, he threw his support behind Obama and campaigned nationwide for him.

Before taking the governor's office, he served as former US ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary during President Bill Clinton's administration.

Treasury Secretary:

New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner attends a news conference at the Treasury Department Cash Room in Washington in this October 14, 2008 file photo. Geithner is expected to be nominated to the post of US Treasury secretary in the administration of US President-elect Barack Obama, NBC News reported on November 21, 2008. [Agencies]

Timothy Geithner, the current president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, was named as the top candidate for Obama's treasury secretary.

Born in New York City, Geithner spent his high school years in Thailand, then attended Dartmouth College, graduated with a bachelor degree in government and Asian studies. After that, he obtained a master degree in international economics and East Asian studies from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

He has studied Japanese and Chinese and has lived in East Africa, India, Thailand, China and Japan.

He joined the US Treasury Department in 1988, and was promoted to Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs in 1999.

In 2002, he left the Treasury to join the Council on Foreign Relations and then worked for the International Monetary Fund as the director of the Policy Development and Review Department until moving to the Fed in October 2003.

Attorney General:

Eric Holder, former Deputy Attorney General at the US Department of Justice, listens to questioning in this file image from February 14, 2001. Holder has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's appointment, which is subject to confirmation, to US Attorney General, according to Newsweek magazine on November 18, 2008. [Agencies]

Eric Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, was expected to be the country's first African American attorney general.

The 57-year-old political veteran has served as a superior court judge in Washington D.C. and was named the capital's US attorney. He was appointed as the deputy attorney general in 1997.

Currently, he is a partner in the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling.

During Obama's campaign, Holder served as a senior legal advisor for Obama.

Homeland Security Secretary:

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is pictured during a rally for then US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Phoenix, Arizona in this January 30, 2008 file photo. President-elect Obama is considering Napolitano for US Homeland Security secretary, heading a sprawling agency formed to bolster civil defense in the wake of the September 11 attacks, a senior Democrat said November 20, 2008.  [Agencies]

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was reportedly asked by Obama to serve as the secretary of homeland security in the incoming administration.

The 50-year-old is in her second term as the governor. Before becoming an elected official, she has served in several legal positions in court and private law firms.

In 1993, Napolitano was appointed by President Bill Clinton as US attorney for the District of Arizona.

She won the gubernatorial election in 2002, and won the re-election four years later.

On Jan. 11, 2008, she announced her endorsement of Obama as the Democratic nominee for President.

Health Secretary:

Former US Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) applauds during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, in this August 27, 2008 file photograph. US president-elect Barack Obama has chosen the former US Senate Democratic leader Daschle to be Health and Human Services secretary, CNN reported on November 19, 2008 citing sources close to Obama's transition team. [Agencies]

Tom Daschle, US former Senate majority leader during the Clinton's administration, was chosen as the next secretary of health and human services.

The 60-year-old Democrat was elected to the House of Representatives from South Dakota in 1978 and then the Senate in 1986.

Eight years later, Daschle, who was in his third term in the floor, was chosen to be the minority leader of the Democratic Party that turned into the majority years later.

In the 2004 Congressional elections, Daschle lost his seat in the Senate to his Republican challenger John Thune.

Daschle currently serves as a special public policy adviser in the Washington office of the lobbying firm Alston Bird, and his wife, Linda, is a registered lobbyist at Baker Donelson, a company having some clients in health-related fields.