With the White House won, Barack Obama now must pick a team

Now that the presidential election business has been pretty much settled in much of the media and Barack Obama has obviously won, we can get down to the next political game at hand: guessing who's going to make up his administration's team.

First, White House Chief of Staff.

How about Rep. Rahm Emanuel? Is he being courted to run the big house for the big man? Or is that story just part of a big (not to mention premature) D.C. guessing game?

Aides and advisors to Obama and Emanuel -- fellow Democratic members of Congress from Illinois -- are trying hard to tamp down the rumors. At least before next Tuesday.

"There's no news because there's no job to offer," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said on behalf of his team. "We're focused on one thing and that's the election, not anonymous D.C. parlor games."

It's not the looniest idea ever floated. Emanuel was a key money guy in Bill Clinton's campaign and then in that administration and is an ally of Obama. Both are helpful credentials for the position.

But as a high-ranking member of the House, Emanuel's also in a pretty good position to help Obama shepherd his agenda through Congress. That's not something to give up lightly.

And while Emanuel's name is prominently in the mix, there's also a contingent putting its money on former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle.

Neither Emanuel nor Daschle is Mr. Bipartisan, but who cares about that promise now that the voting is, in effect, over?

Our colleague Christi Parsons has the rest of the details over at the Swamp. But before you go there, click the Read more line below to see how some Obama folks are trying to fight campaign complacency with a video.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Office of Rep. Rahm Emanuel

Hat Tip to Frank James at the Swamp

Comments

[Bob in Los Angeles]

Future President Obama might consider John McCain to head up the "Share the Wealth" program. Sen. McCain seems willing and anxoius to "Share the Wealth" by buying up the mortgages of homeowners that bought more than they could afford. Trouble is, I don't own a home. Where's my share from John McCain!?

[jason]

Great, the man who promised two years ago to focus on his job as a senator and not run for president any time soon. Which changed within all of 6months!!!

He will be the first full on career politician in this nations history to become president.

I think the teachers of this nation need to start teaching the writings of the constitution better. OUR forfathers came together to get away from people like Barrak Obama. And everytime you hear a word our of Mr. Obama's mouth remember this Reagan quote, "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."- Ronald Reagan

[History]

Ronald Reagan sent this country into a recession, remember?

[Don't Trust Obama]

Andrew Malcolm should be ashamed of himself for asserting that Obama won. The election is on Nov 4th. This is typical of biased media attempting to influence the election, particularly the LA Times which is biased in favor of Obama, and whom also holds evidence of Obama with Ayers celebrating antisemetism... They hide this from the public because they are protecting their chosen one... Their job is to share information with the public, but they chose not to, instead would rather keep this from the public considering the amount of damage it will cause the Obama campaign. I wonder if Hillary Clinton is the unnamed source as some think.

It's not over until the fat lady sings.. WE THE PEOPLE did not vote yet. If anyone should know that the polls are biased and non scientific, it should be journalists.. The LA Times is just another example of media brainwashing via biased and irresponsible reporting

[cortney]

Dont be so sure...Even Obama says not to count your eggs before they hatch...and as for the media, they decided that Obama won long ago, but that doesnt mean its true.
As for the poster, Bob in LA, wanting to know where his "take" is since he doesnt own a home...Grow up and work for it. you think that you will really benefit from bailiing out banks instead? Oh I get it, bail out the banks, make the wealthy wealthier, over tax them so their money goes to morons who believe they are entitled to something just because they breathe. How about getting an education, working yourself ragged at 60-80 hrs per week, in order to ACTUALLY improve your quality of life like the wealthy bank owners and board members did/do. Then maybe you can claim to deserve a stake, rather than sitting complacent in a dead end job, doing only whats required and nothing more. This sense of entitlement in this country is astounding. It's a serious case of the "gimmes"; a bunch of overgrown two year olds with no ambition to realize that the power is in their own hands, and if you dont have something you want, the only person to blame for it is yourself!. It just means you dont want it bad enough to actually work for it...Hello its called the American Dream.

[Anthony]

Actually WE THE PEOPLE have already been voting for some time. Did you not hear that a greater proportion than ever of WE THE PEOPLE have early voted?

[Marcos El Malo]

Dearest Cortney,

McCain's plan bails out the banks from bad loans, and makes the government the mortgage holder of your loan. I believe that sort of thing falls under the heading of Socialism. As far as the American Dream goes, maybe I missed it in the fine print, but I don't recall anything about my tax money buying your loan so you can own a house.

I'm very sorry if you stand to lose your house, but please don't expect me to forgo my own dreams for yours.

[baby jap]

aw... now you've gone and jinxed it

[Dav]

Shame on Andrew. And shame on Obama for the people he hangs around with. I previously wrote about listening to a person who said she voted several times in Ca and Nevada, and once in Arizona...And the illegal immigrant who voted absentee. Even if Obama wins we'll never know how many times ACORN registered people - they approached sme to register at present and previous addresses. I hope 3 or 4 years from now those who voted for O will still be happy with their choice. And I REALLY mean that. I'd love to be proven wrong.

[Bob in Los Angeles]

Dear Cortney,

Gee. Are we bitter? I'm not looking for my take; it's called sarcasm. You missed the point: McCain cries out that Obama is a socialist, then on the following day, McCain offers government bailouts that will only prolong the pain of a free market trying to correct itself.

"Sharing the Wealth" is not a new concept. It's highways, and schools and hospitals for communities that have none; it's medical care for soldiers; it's grants for small business.

I'm done. I think Oprah's on now. ;-)

[Micheli]

So if Obama didn't get to kick you off his plane ...
it saddens me...
Speculation regarding Rahm Emanuel came form the Republican Camp... dirty politics ..anything to win...

Such as: the infamous speech...Obama was accused of writing etc...
You just throw anything against the wall ..and hope that we aren't smart enough to pay attention....shame on you

Perhaps you should cover Brittany Spears for awhile..

By the way..McCain keeps mouthing off about his big comeback, if he is that confident perhaps he should be letting us know who he plans to put in place..
Joe the Plumber and Palin have been such intelligent and thoughtful choices
Obama/Biden 08