Hillary Clinton at State Department?

There is increasing speculation about Hillary Clinton's possible appointment as secretary of state.

Reports are coming out that a serious vetting process is under way to determine the possible pitfalls of such an appointment.

Mr Obama's team is unlikely to be looking for an excuse to shoot down the idea, but rather genuinely making sure all the bases are covered before any firm jobs offer or announcements are made.

While the story continues to be carried forward based on unnamed Democratic officials quoted in the US media, it is probable that Mr Obama would have found a way to quash it if there was not some truth to it.

"No-one has called to say 'Don't go too far on this'," said James Carville, a long-time Clinton friend, quoted in the Washington Post.

Other names have been mentioned over the last few weeks for the position of secretary of state, such as Senator John Kerry, from Massachusetts, who ran for president in 2004.

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