Confidants tell 'Times' senator decided to accept position; Hillary's spokesman: Arrangement not final.
By JPOST.COM STAFF, APobama clinton 248.88(photo credit: AP [file])
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to accept the position of secretary of state under president-elect Barack Obama and give up her Senate seat, the New York Times quoted two confidants as saying on Friday.
Reportedly, one of the confidants explained that Clinton came to the decision after discussing with Obama "the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy." Another Clinton associate told the Times that her camp believes they have a done deal.
However, The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.
Although spokesmen for both Obama and Clinton confirmed serious discussions were underway, they said the position had yet to be formally accepted.
On Friday morning, senior Obama advisers said that while they were convinced the alliance was ready to be sealed, the offer had not been formally accepted and no announcement would be made until after Thanksgiving.
Senator Clinton said through a spokesman on Friday afternoon that discussions were "very much on track" for that appointment but no final arrangement had been made, and that "any reports beyond that are premature."
Meanwhile, the European Union's foreign policy Chief Javier Solana told reporters on Friday that the appointment of Clinton as secretary of state would be well received in Europe.