In Transition

While an announcement will not come before Thanksgiving, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton appears all but certain to be President-Elect Barack Obama's Secretary of State.

An Obama aide says issues surrounding the financial disclosures of former President Bill Clinton have been resolved.

"Things are on track," the aide said. "There will be no formal announcement before Thanksgiving."

A statement from Clinton's office said, "We're still in discussions, which are very much on track. Any reports beyond that are premature."

The New York Times had reported Wednesday that one potential obstacle to choosing Hillary Clinton had been overcome when Bill Clinton agreed to conditions sought by Obama's transition team to eliminate potential conflicts of interest.

The other question that had hung over whether Clinton would accept an offer was whether she wanted to give up the independence she enjoyed as a senator and continuing a career in the Senate where she might move into a leadership role.

Obama also appears poised to name New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy J. Geithner as his Treasury Secretary, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

CQ's Benton Ives reports that Geithner could face tough questions in confirmation hearings about his role in devising a financial rescue plan that has become increasingly unpopular with lawmakers.

NBC said Obama would announce his economic team next week as "part of an effort to reassure markets."

The network also said that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was in line to become Commerce Secretary.

--Jonathan Allen