It's good that, as this Strib piece reports, the Kerry team is thinking a little [but privately] about a possible transition, and I'm sure there's more than a little home state boosting here:
Sen. Mark Dayton said such speculation was premature, but said that Jim Johnson, a former Minnesotan and business executive who headed Kerry's vice presidential search, is thought to be on the short list for either Treasury secretary or White House chief of staff.Rep. Jim Oberstar, one of Congress' most powerful voices on transportation issues, likely would be on the short list for Transportation secretary.
He said he'd certainly consider an offer. "But I'd rather run the Department of Transportation from [Capitol] Hill," he said, if Democrats were to reclaim the majority in the House. Oberstar mentioned Rep. Collin Peterson as a possible Agriculture secretary.
I said this about Kerry's VP pick as well, and I'll say it again, if you can pick a candidate or cabinet secretary who does not reduce your Senate majority, or cause a special election he should do so.
The DFL might not win Peterson's seat in a special election; they would have a better chance of retaining Oberstar's. At any rate both would be close. If the Democrats have a House majority and Patty Wetterling picked up MN-6 then this would be OK, but not otherwise.