AP have a very unfortunate and untimely leak - from Obama's perspective - on prospective chiefs of staff in an Obama White House. We've heard the names floated before but this AP piece suggests that Obama approached Rep. Rahm Emanuel with the offer. Naturally, Emanuel's office denies it, and Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic convincingly refutes it but one can already hear McCain clearing his voice and bellowing "not only has my opponent measured the drapes, he's already picked his Chief-of-Staff, and they can't wait to raise your taxes and spread the wealth around. Now that's why Joe the Plumber and I, you there Joe, are going to...real Americans...but they forgot to let you decide."
Let's wait for Obama to close it out or McCain to pull off a comeback win before the transition speculation begins in earnest.
However, briefly consider the options that have been floated around for Obama. Rahm Emanuel, John Podesta, and Tom Daschle.
Rahm Emanuel (Rahm-bo) is from Chicago and worked in the Clinton White House. He may be a likely choice, but, as Ambinder notes, his personality could well disrupt Obama's messaging.
John Podesta, who's heading Obama's transition team, also hails from Chicago and was Clinton's final Chief-of-Staff.
Tom Daschle, a former Senate Majority and Minority Leader, comes from South Dakota.
Obama may be "inexperienced" but he's lining up some very familiar hands - these candidates have very solid, convincing, and Clintonesque (he has little choice here) experience, nicely coupled with voices from his familiar Midwestern stomping ground.
This resonates neatly with the Biden pick. Meanwhile, is McCain scouring Guam and the US Virgin Islands for some obscure, yet popular legislator to be his chief of staff?
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