Kitzhaber ‘extremely doubtful’ about cabinet post

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber was not optimistic about his chances of being appointed to a position in President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet, he told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Kitzhaber has been rumored to be a candidate for two positions; secretary of health and human services and secretary of the interior. After former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) was appointed to the health and human services position, the Kitzhaber rumors focused on the secretary of interior position. But on Tuesday, he told the AP that was unlikely to happen because he would be unwilling to spend so much time away from his son.

"I think people back there know that I wouldn't be willing to set up permanent residence in Washington because of my son," he told the AP. "I would expect that's a deal breaker for them."

According to the AP, Kitzhaber said he believed there were several good candidates for the post, including Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.).