Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Who's In and Out of Obama's Cabinet - lots of changes coming in 2013.  The best known change is Hillary Clinton is out as Secretary of State and President Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) as her replacement.  But, there are plenty more changes coming to Obama's cabinet in 2013.  CNN.com has a look here as to who is leaving and the possible replacements. 

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Politico's 13 People to Watch in 2013 - Some interesting names on the list.  One is Kamala Harris, 48, who is the attorney general of California, but many Democrats sense her catapulting up the ranks in the party — and soon. 

Taking over for Eric Holder as U.S. attorney general if he leaves? A possible appointment as the next Supreme Court justice? Maybe a future gubernatorial run?

No matter what, expectations for Harris are high. 2013 could see her biggest political move yet.  To read the entire list, click here. 

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Inouye's Replacement To be Named Wednesday - Hawaii Governor Neil Abrecrombie (D) will name the interim replacement for the late Senator Daniel Inouye (D) tomorrow.  This will ensure the new Senator will be able to take part in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations.

Abercrombie has given no indication of whom he would like to tap for the vacant seat. But before he passed away, Inouye wrote the governor and recommended that Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) be named his successor.

Hanabusa is widely seen as the front-runner for the post, but other possible appointees include former Rep. Ed Case (D), and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D), who lost his 2006 bid for Congress.  TheHill.com has more here.

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Ted Kennedy Jr. Will Not Run for Kerry's Seat - Putting the fast spreading rumor to an end, Ted Kennedy Jr. said yesterday he will not run for the open seat, if Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) is confirmed, as expected, for Secretary of State.

Kennedy Jr. said that although he's "extremely grateful for all of the offers of support," he doesn't want to uproot his family from their current home in Connecticut, and doesn’t feel good about moving to Massachusetts to run for a seat outside of his current home state. Kennedy said he has a "strong desire" to some day seek office "at another point in my future," most likely in Connecticut. You can read more here.

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