US President Barack Obama, of the centre-left Democratic Party, is in discussions to pick a senator of the centre-right Republican Party as his secretary of trade, the Washington Post reported Saturday.
According to the report, the appointment of senator Judd Gregg would both be a conciliatory gesture to the opposition Republican Party as well as open the door create a solid Democratic majority in the Senate upper house of Congress, as Gregg's vacant seat from the US state of New Hampshire would be appointed by that state's Democratic Party governor.
The post of trade secretary is currently the only vacant position in Obama's cabinet, as his previous choice - New Mexico governor Bill Richardson - declined the position due to investigations into corruption in his home state.