AP: Daschle accepts HHS job, Holder as AG
WASHINGTON -- Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has informally accepted an offer from President-elect Barack Obama to become secretary of Health and Human Services and Washington attorney Eric Holder has agreed to become Attorney General, the Associated Press reports.
The AP, quoting an unidentified source close to the selection process, described the offer to Daschle as "informallly" made and acccepted, pending completion of the vetting process.
Neither appointment has been officially announced. But Democratic officals, speaking anonymously, said the HHS job is Daschle's barring an unforeseen problem as Obama's team reviews the background of the South Dakota Democrat.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Daschle is a close adviser to Obama. On Wednesday, in a public statement, the Obama transition offices named Daschle a Policy Working Group Leader on health for the transition.
Alex Conant, spokesman for the Republican National committee, says Daschle has worked for a major lobbying firm and that his appointment will be "another disappointment" for voters hoping to see "new faces and fewer lobbyist-connections in government."
As for the Attorney General position, Holder, 57, the Bronx-born son of a Barbados immigrant, would become the first African-American to hold the top Justice Department office.
The AP, quoting a source close to the selection process, reported that Obama has "informally" offered Holder the post and that he has accepted.
Holder has not commented on the report, also carried by Newsweek and National Public Radio.
The AP source spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement has been made and because the process of vetting the nomination is still going on.
Holder, has broad legal experience in both the public and private sector. He has held a judgeship, successfully prosecuted a powerful Democratic lawmaker for mail fraud, served as No. 2 at the Justice Department in the Clinton administration and represented a wide-range of corporate clients at a Washington law firm.
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