U.S. media report that President-elect Barack Obama has asked former Democratic Senate leader Tom Daschle to be secretary of Health and Human Services.
Reports say the former South Dakotan lawmaker accepted the offer to manage the incoming administration's health care policy.
Mr. Obama's transition team did not confirm the reports Wednesday, but announced that Daschle will lead a group of health policy advisers crafting plans for the next administration.
During the campaign, Daschle co-chaired a non-partisan group that sought to raise awareness about health and poverty in the developing world. He recently authored a book proposing new health care policies in the United States.
In other developments, earlier news reports said former President Bill Clinton will submit to an extensive ethics review if his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is nominated to be secretary of state.
The reports cite party officials as saying Mr. Clinton agreed to submit future charitable and business activities to rigorous scrutiny.
The reports say the former president has offered to release the names of several major donors to his charitable foundation. They say he would also seek clearance from the Obama administration before agreeing to any paid speeches.
Mr. Obama is reportedly considering Senator Clinton and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, among others, for the top U.S. diplomatic post. Clinton and Richardson were rivals of Mr. Obama in the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
For the post of U.S. attorney general, Mr. Obama is reportedly considering private practice attorney Eric Holder. Holder served as deputy attorney general under former President Clinton, and would be the first African-American to head the Justice Department.
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