Obama begins team selection, Kerry eyes secretary of state post

The Democrat ducked out of the limelight after becoming America's first black president, but behind-the-scenes activity picked up with the formal creation of a team to handle his transition to power ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration.Â

Several Democrats told AP Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who won a new six-year term on Tuesday, was angling for secretary of state. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss any private conversations, it added.Â

Kerry’s spokeswoman, Brigid O’Rourke, disputed the reports.

Democrats said Obama had asked combative congressman and former Clinton White House aide Rahm Emanuel, 48, to be his chief of staff; a vital post that helps set the tempo of the administration, AFP reported.

While Bill Clinton, the last Democrat in the White House, took weeks to announce his cabinet, Obama does not have the luxury of time with the U.S. administration now dispensing a 700-billion-dollar bailout for Wall Street.

James Steinberg, a former Clinton adviser, is a top contender for national security adviser. Susan Rice, another former Clinton aide, could be considered for that job or another senior post.

Obama had relied heavily on three foreign policy experts in his campaign staff who are likely to end up in the White House or the State Department. They are Mark Lippert and Denis McDonough, both former Senate aides, and Ben Rhodes, Obama's foreign policy speechwriter.

With wars under way in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama might consider keeping Robert Gates on as secretary of defense. He might also consider tapping former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, a close adviser.

In light of the financial crisis, Obama is expected to quickly name members of his economic team. Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, who served in the Clinton administration, and Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, are among the names being mentioned for Treasury secretary.