While Tuesday’s election cost Rep. Howard Berman his job, the Los Angeles Times reports that he is one of several people being considered as a possible next secretary of state:
Berman, who has been chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is among those now mentioned by U.S. officials as a possible replacement for Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton when she departs next year. Berman, 71, has worked closely with the White House over four years on sensitive issues such as Iran and is known as competent and discreet, traits much prized by President Obama.
(I suggested in an earlier post that perhaps Berman might make a good U.S. Mideast peace envoy.)
Other folks reportedly being considered for secretary of state include Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.); Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.; and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is losing his seat as a result of a successful primary challenge by a more conservative Republican (who in turn ended up being beaten by a Democrat in the general election).
Meanwhile, the fellow who defeated Berman in an ugly redistricting-fueled intra-party contest, Rep. Brad Sherman, is making a play for Berman’s position as the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s ranking member. But he will have some competition from Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and nonvoting Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa).
The Hill’s Julian Pecquet took a thorough look at how the competition for the slot is shaping up.
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Back in April, JTA’s Ron Kampeas looked at the jockeying for the ranking member slot in anticipation of a possible Berman loss.
Big hat tip: Gestetner Updates
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