Looks like the White House will have to find themselves a different token Dem for Bush’s cabinet.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., has turned down a Bush administration offer to become secretary of the Department of Agriculture, congressional sources said Thursday.
The Bush administration is seeking a new agriculture secretary after Ann Veneman announced Monday that she was stepping down.
Just as well. As I mentioned yesterday, Nebraska’s governor, Mike Johanns, is a Republican who would have named Nelson’s successor.
Interestingly enough, at least one relevant source believes Nelson was never really under consideration for the post.
Nebraska’s other senator, Republican Chuck Hagel, said Thursday that he doubted whether Nelson ever was under serious consideration, and a second congressional source said no formal job offer had been extended to the Democrat.
[…]
Hagel said that after he and an aide spoke with White House officials both days, he didn’t think Nelson was under serious consideration.
Maybe this was a trial balloon to help Bush appear moderate; maybe Nelson leaked the possibility as a way of boosting his profile. Either way, if Karl Rove is looking for a Dem for Bush’s cabinet, he’ll have to look elsewhere.