Intense speculation flared Friday over reports that president-elect Barack Obama is weighing whether to name former Democratic primary rival Hillary Clinton as a heavy-hitting secretary of state. Sources close to Clinton and Obama did not deny media reports that the former first lady met Obama in Chicago on Thursday and was in the frame to become the top US diplomat and fourth in line to the presidency.
The reports came as Obama's team announced that the president-elect, who will take office in January during an intense economic crisis and with two foreign wars raging, would meet former Republican rival John McCain on Monday. The McCain talks and Clinton reports spurred speculation that Obama would assemble a deep "team of rivals" administration uniting his former political foes like that framed after the 1860 election by his hero Abraham Lincoln.
Two unnamed Obama advisers told NBC News the formidable former first lady, who is now a New York senator, was under consideration for secretary of state.
Clinton flew to Chicago to meet with the Democratic president-elect on Thursday, CNN and ABC said, but one adviser said it was on personal business. Aides to Obama and Clinton refused all comment on the rampant speculation, but equally did not deny the reports. Clinton herself also refused to give details.