Speculation intensifies for Clinton at State

Speculation intensified today that Barack Obama would tap Hillary Clinton to lead his State Department -- despite a string of past disagreements the two have had over foreign policy.

The British newspaper the Guardian reported that Clinton will accept the position. The Guardian, however, relied on anonymous sources in its report, and so far is the only publication making such a bold declaration.

ABC News noted that the two sides were "inching closer" to an agreement:

"Serious progress has been made in the talks between the two, leaving both Obama and Clinton increasingly optimistic that the assignment will happen, sources say."

Ironically, Hillary's husband Bill, who some viewed as a detriment to her presidential campaign, may be holding up her State Department appointment as well. The former president's frequent travels, speeches, and meetings with international leaders have become part of the vetting process for the Obama team, The New York Times reports:

"The vetting of Mr. Clinton's myriad philanthropic and business dealings is 'complicated, and it may be the complications that are causing hesitation on both sides,' said Abner J. Mikva, one of Mr. Obama's closest supporters and a White House counsel during the Clinton administration. 'There would have to be full disclosure as to who all were contributors to his library and foundation. I think they’d have to be made public.'

While aides to the president-elect declined Monday to discuss what sort of requirements would make it possible for Mrs. Clinton to serve as secretary of state, they said Mr. Obama would not formally offer her the job unless he was satisfied that there would be no conflicts posed by Mr. Clinton's activities abroad."

If Clinton becomes secretary of state, she and Obama have a history of disagreements on foreign affairs to overcome. The Globe's Scott Helman today chronicled how the two sparred over international issues throughout the primary campaign, despite largely agreeing on many domestic policies.

"From their first clashes in the summer of 2007 through spring this year, Obama and Clinton fought bitterly over who had a deeper understanding of the world, exchanging sharp words over their international experience and their views on diplomacy, military strikes against terrorists, the right approach toward Iran, and the genesis of the Iraq war.

It is the one arena in which Obama and Clinton articulated significantly different visions. On a host of other issues - taxes, healthcare, jobs, free trade, investments in renewable energy - their positions were often indistinguishable."

Read more about the past disagreements here, and click here for a timeline of foreign policy disputes between Clinton and Obama.