Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.
Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.
Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.
Clinton, who still harbours hopes of a future presidential run, had to weigh up whether she would be better placed by staying in the Senate, which offers a platform for life, or making the more uncertain career move to the secretary of state job.
From Obama's perspective it offers him the chance to de-fang the only Democrat who would be likely to challenge him for his party's nomination in four years. I'm sure that he's also thinking that she would be far less likely to attempt to sabotage his administration if she is a part of it, but he should remember the way that Colin Powell and his buddies at the State Department did everything in their power to undermine President Bush.
From Hillary's point of view this gives her a far more prominent stage to act upon than being the junior Senator from New York. However her fortunes are now going to be chained to a man of little experience and fewer real accomplishments.
When things start to go south in the Obama administration she - and Bill - are going to find ways to communicate the fact that it isn't HER fault while Obama will be seeking to place the blame on anyone other than himself.
Expect hijinks.
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