[Note: When I wrote about this last week, I initially suggested that Senator Reed was being coy in response to my question about whether he might join a Democratic administration if the Dems retake the White House next year. The senator's spokesman called N4N to report that Reed thought he was "pretty categorical" in responding to my query. I have changed the headline on this post and modified the text regarding the question.]
Not for Nothing, but a growing number of Rhode Islanders are wondering whether US Senator Jack Reed will be asked to become defense secretary or Army secretary if the Democrats retake the White House next year.
Reed is one of Rhode Island's most popular elected officials, so the Senate seat is probably his for as long as he wants it. On the other hand, taking an administration post could enable the senator, who recently became a father, to make fewer trips to Rhode Island.
Adding to the intrigue is the question of whether Reed would take such a post, and whether the General Assembly would try to seize from the governor the authority to pick his successor.
When I asked him how he would respond to a request to become defense secretary or Army secretary, Reed's answer amounted to this: I am privileged to serve in the Senate, and I hope the voters return me to office.
On the lighter side, Reed, off-camera, used his BlackBerry to show off pictures of Emily Hart Reed, the very cute three-month-old daughter of the senator and his spouse, Julia Hart Reed.
Reed said a younger aide helped to import the pictures onto his BlackBerry (the devices were given to members of Congress for enhanced communication after 9/11).
Remarking on changing technology, the senator recalled how, when he was about three years old, one of his older relatives would have another family member set the family television to the station showing the Red Sox, because the elder relative couldn't figure out how to manipulate the stations.