Democratic Official: Obama Set To Name Richardson As Commerce Secretary

NEW YORK (AP) – A Democratic official says President-elect Barack Obama will name New Mexico Governor Richardson as commerce secretary.

The official says Obama plans to announce Richardson’s selection after Thanksgiving.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

The 61-year-old governor was energy secretary and U.N. ambassador under President Bill Clinton. Richardson also served in the House from 1983 to 1997.

Richardson would be the most visible Hispanic named to Obama’s Cabinet.

The governor dropped out of the Democratic presidential contest in January and endorsed Obama.

Richardson endorsed Obama at the height of the Illinois senator’s primary contest with Hillary Rodham Clinton, angering many Clinton supporters.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)