Yesterday the rumor was that Joe Lieberman may be willing to give up his Senate seat and join the Bush cabinet. Today, far more credible sources are indicating that the White House has already reached out to a different moderate Senate Dem for a job.
Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska has been approached about becoming agriculture secretary in the Bush administration, according to two sources.
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President Bush’s top political adviser, Karl Rove, spoke to Nelson about the possibility in a telephone conversation last Friday, according to the two sources familiar with their conversation. Nelson has thus far declined to accept what the sources described as an offer or solicitation.
Nelson told CNN he could not confirm or deny that an offer from Rove was made, adding that he is “happy” in his current job.
But when pressed as to whether he would consider the job if Bush offered it, Nelson said, “Any time the president talks, you listen.”
Nelson is not one of the higher-profile Dem lawmakers, but he’s a popular former governor in a very red, agricultural state. He supported Bush’s tax cuts and the war in Iraq, putting him on the conservative edge of the Dem caucus, which would help explain why the administration might consider him for a post.
The problem with Nelson’s departure would be the same as with Lieberman — Nebraska’s Republican governor, Mike Johanns, would choose Nelson’s replacement. It’d obviously be a Republican, bringing the GOP Senate total to 56.