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Holder reportedly in line for attorney general

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 18, 2008 07:39 PM

Depending whose sources you believe, Eric Holder, the No. 2 in President Clinton's Justice Department, is either President-elect Barack's top choice to move up to the top job as attorney general -- or has already been offered and accepted the post.

If selected and confirmed by the Senate, Holder would be the nation's first black chief law enforcement officer. His selection would appear to close the door on other potential candidates, including Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who also served in the Clinton Justice Department. He has also been mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee, but has said he plans to seek reelection.

The Associated Press is reporting this evening that an Obama official and two Democrats in touch with the transition team confirmed that Holder is Obama's preferred pick, but the Obama official said the decision has not been finalized.

The AP also says that in the past week, Obama aides have asked Senate Republicans whether they would support Holder, particularly in light of his blessing of the controversial 2001 pardon of fugitive Marc Rich, who was on the run from tax charges, in the final hours of Clinton's presidency.

The New York Times and ABC News are also reporting that while Obama's team is signaling that Holder is the pick, there's no done deal. Meanwhile, CNN and NBC are saying that he has been offered the job.

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