Obama's cabinet picks shake up NY, AZ politics

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet picks Monday are sweet political gifts for the Republican who'll become governor of Arizona and the yet-to-be-named Democrat who'll assume Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate seat.

Under Arizona state law, the ascension of Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano to Homeland Security Secretary will mean Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer will assume the reins there. In New York, Clinton's planned departure means Gov. David Paterson will have a month or more to choose a successor for her.

Rep. Nita Lowey, one of the more prominent potential Clinton replacements, told The Associated Press on that she will remain in the House and not take Clinton's job.

The 71-year-old Lowey said she isn't interested in giving up her hard-earned seniority on the House Appropriations Committee — a position which happens to give her a great deal of say over the budget of the State Department which Clinton may soon lead.

"Even though it's a great honor to be considered, for me, it makes more sense and I can accomplish more for my district, the state, and the country, if I stay in the House of Representatives," Lowey said in a phone interview with The AP.

Clinton "would be an outstanding secretary of state and frankly in my position as the chair of the subcommittee that funds the Department of State and all foreign aid, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her in the future," Lowey said.

Lowey had been expected to seek the Senate seat back in 2000, but stepped aside for Clinton, then the first lady.

In New York, the next senator is almost certain to be a Democrat, and adopt many positions similar to Clinton. That is unlikely to be the case in Arizona.

Brewer, 64, is a veteran Republican officeholder, with more than two decades as a legislator, a Maricopa County supervisor and secretary of state. Arizona does not have a lieutenant general.

Brewer had a reputation as a fiscal hard-liner and conservative on social issues while a legislator in the 1980s and 1990s, so her taking over the governorship would mean a new approach from Napolitano's direction. A spokesman for Brewer's office didn't immediately return a call for comment after President-elect Barack Obama's official announcement.

The jockeying to replace Clinton in the Senate began well before the announcement; Gov. Paterson's decision not to make a decision on a successor until January likely means a frenetic holiday season for New York politicians.

"You can ask me this question a million times, I'm not getting into who the candidates are, what do I think of them," the governor said.