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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Richardson gets US commerce nod | Richardson gets US commerce nod |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President-elect Barack Obama has picked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as his commerce secretary. | US President-elect Barack Obama has picked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as his commerce secretary. |
| Mr Richardson is one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the US and his nomination has been expected for several weeks. | Mr Richardson is one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in the US and his nomination has been expected for several weeks. |
| He becomes the latest former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination to join Mr Obama's cabinet. | He becomes the latest former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination to join Mr Obama's cabinet. |
| The president-elect has named more than half of his cabinet in the month since he was elected president. | The president-elect has named more than half of his cabinet in the month since he was elected president. |
| Mr Obama called Mr Richardson a leading "economic diplomat for America". | Mr Obama called Mr Richardson a leading "economic diplomat for America". |
| "During his time in state government and Congress, and in two tours of duty in the cabinet, Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better," he said. | "During his time in state government and Congress, and in two tours of duty in the cabinet, Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better," he said. |
| Mr Richardson pledged - in English and Spanish - to work to renew the economy. | Mr Richardson pledged - in English and Spanish - to work to renew the economy. |
| Veteran politican | Veteran politican |
| Mr Richardson, 61, is no stranger to government, having served under Bill Clinton as UN ambassador and energy secretary. | Mr Richardson, 61, is no stranger to government, having served under Bill Clinton as UN ambassador and energy secretary. |
| Profile: Bill RichardsonUS political vacancies | Profile: Bill RichardsonUS political vacancies |
| He is in his second term as New Mexico's governor, having also served seven terms as a congressman. | He is in his second term as New Mexico's governor, having also served seven terms as a congressman. |
| If confirmed by the US Senate, he would take over a sprawling department that oversees the national weather service, the census bureau, economic development programs and more. | If confirmed by the US Senate, he would take over a sprawling department that oversees the national weather service, the census bureau, economic development programs and more. |
| Mr Richardson was a contender for the state department job, but Mr Obama offered him the post as commerce secretary after choosing another former presidential rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, to be his secretary of state. | Mr Richardson was a contender for the state department job, but Mr Obama offered him the post as commerce secretary after choosing another former presidential rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, to be his secretary of state. |
| Former rival Senator Joe Biden will serve as his vice president. | Former rival Senator Joe Biden will serve as his vice president. |
| Mr Obama also has yet to name his intelligence team - including his director of national intelligence and CIA chief - as well as several other cabinet posts. | Mr Obama also has yet to name his intelligence team - including his director of national intelligence and CIA chief - as well as several other cabinet posts. |
| When Mr Richardson leaves to assume his new post, New Mexico's Lt Gov Diane Denish, a Democrat will become the state's first female governor. | When Mr Richardson leaves to assume his new post, New Mexico's Lt Gov Diane Denish, a Democrat will become the state's first female governor. |
| She will take over for the remainder of Richardson's term, which runs through 2010. | She will take over for the remainder of Richardson's term, which runs through 2010. |