See where these Hillary SoS rumors are heading

[ProSense]

Obama camp hints at cabinet post for Clinton

By Edward Luce in Washington

Published: November 15 2008 02:00 | Last updated: November 15 2008 02:00

Hillary Clinton watchers interpreted the former first lady's vigorous campaigning on behalf of Barack Obama as a smart insurance policy: were Mr Obama to have lost the election she would have been well positioned to run again in 2012. But sometimes insurance policies pay out in unexpected ways.

Democratic officials confirmed yesterday that Mrs Clinton flew to Chicago on Thursday at Mr Obama's request to discuss an unspecified role in the Obama administration - probably as secretary of state, but Pentagon chief was also cited as a possibility.

Given the lingering resentment among some of Mrs Clinton's staff at what was seen as her mistreatment by Mr Obama when he was drawing up his short list of candidates for vice-president, many were still sceptical yesterday.

But they pointed out that, in contrast to rumours surrounding John Kerry, the former presidential candidate whose name has also been floated as a possible secretary of state, the Clinton leaks were coming from figures close to the president-elect.

"I would be shocked if Obama did not offer Hillary something after putting this possibility out there in the public realm," said a senior staff member for Mrs Clinton. "It would be like a deliberate kick in the teeth. I can't see what he would gain from doing that."

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No confirmation, but somehow Obama is now in a box?

On edit: The media has gone from reporting that Hillary was offered the job as SoS to now reporting that she discussed an "unspecified role - probably as secretary of state, but Pentagon chief was also cited as a possibility."