Names Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary: Is This a Consolation Prize?

President-elect Barack Obama named Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico as his choice for secretary of commerce on Wednesday.

At the press conference, Obama denied that the job was a “consolation prize” for Richardson who had been candidate for secretary of state.

“Commerce secretary is a pretty good job,” Mr. Obama said.

“I think the notion that somehow commerce secretary is not going to be central to everything we do is fundamentally mistaken.”

Source: NYT