Posted on 12/14/2016 4:11:37 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp has emerged as President-elect Donald Trump's leading choice for agriculture secretary, sources close to the transition tell POLITICO.
The first-term Democrat from North Dakota and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee has been a vocal advocate for farmers and broke from her party on several controversial policy issues, including the labeling of genetically modified foods and environmental protection for wetlands and waterways.
A special election to replace Heitkamp would almost certainly turn her seat over to a Republican, so the choice would give Trump a chance to appear conciliatory to Democrats, albeit with a lower-profile Cabinet role, while allowing the GOP to bolster its Senate majority.
Heitkamp's office and Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Heitkamp, who met with the president-elect at Trump Tower on Dec. 2, is facing a tough race in a deep red state in 2018. In a further sign she is a strong contender for a Cabinet post, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell met with North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer on Tuesday about a potential open Senate seat. A source close to the transition said gaining another Republican Senate seat was on the list of reasons for picking Heitkamp.
It remains unclear whether Heitkamp would accept the job.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Do it, we’ll pick up the seat.
Do you think the Dems would think it conciliatory to trade a lower level cabinet appointment for a Senate seat?
I don’t, haha.
This would be a winner all the way around. The Agriculture policies don’t usually fall along partisan lines, so no harm would come from this appointment and it’ll likely add another Republican to the Senate.
Yep, brilliant!
Trump could use another Senator to help offset Juan and his anal implant, Linda.
“...appointment and it’ll likely add another Republican to the Senate.”
It’s called “insurance against McStain & Linseed crossing the aisle” and gives an extra vote before VP White Fox would need to break a tie.
More 4D warfare raged by The Don.
“waged”. Damn autocorrect...
Trump plays chess !!! Awesome move !!!
Berg deserved to lose. Then there’s Tester in Montana-red state. Republicans are stupid.
Smart move! With Graham and McCain even Flake out there we need a little extra breathing room?
I’m not convinced that Heidi will take the position, because she wouldn’t want the Democrats to lose another U.S. Senate seat.
Make Graham the Secretary of Arts and Crafts. Maybe the people of South Carolina will turn the seat Republican for a change.
Meanwhile Cramer has excelled at the retail politics stuff (fundraising, townhalls, open houses, talk shows). He has only increased in popularity.
If's that true it's only because too many RINO idiots join the democrats in supporting farm pork that should be rightly opposed, conservatives do oppose it. Democrats are also more likely to be luddites that freak out over GM foods which are not good but GREAT.
Reports are farm state Republicans are against the potential appointment, citing a deep bench of potential GOP candidates.
I sympathize with their position and I'm the last guy who wants a democrat in there, even as a token, it's a stupid tradition that could use abolishing, Obama either appointed RINOs who supported him as payback (LaHood) or put Republicans in there to be convenient scapegoats (Hagel).
BUT but but, I'm hoping for this. This is a penny ante position and we'd pick up her Senate seat early. 52 is a narrow majority, 53 is better. Worth it in my opinion, potential for her doing real harm from that post is not high. If she does she can be "promoted" to Ambassador to Botswana.
“VP White Fox”
:D
Do it, we’ll pick up the seat.
Every move Trump makes is brilliant. I have not had one “what?” moment on any of these picks. Not really. I think I trust him fully. From June 2015, he has ran things with such perfectly.
“BUT but but, I’m hoping for this. This is a penny ante position and we’d pick up her Senate seat early. 52 is a narrow majority, 53 is better. Worth it in my opinion, potential for her doing real harm from that post is not high. If she does she can be “promoted” to Ambassador to Botswana.”
Winner, winner, Shea McClellin’s irma!
That will be his handle.
And I think she realizes that's the only reason she is under consideration for the post.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.