Michele Flournoy as the ‘sure’ pick fro Secretary of Defense is in a holding pattern….
After her ballon floated it attracted pushback from progressives and those who want a black placed in the senior national security cabinet….(Susan Rice is out of picture as too toxic for Senate Republicans it appears)
A black former US Army General, Lloyd Austin, is being floated for the spot…
The former general job may run against him….
The more serious choice is probably be Jeb Johnson, Obama ‘s Homeland Security head….
Johnson is also up for Attorney General….
The first wave choice for Biden are making the second wave choices harder…
Joe Biden is considering retired four-star General Lloyd Austin as his nominee for defense secretary, adding him to a shortlist that includes Jeh Johnson, Tammy Duckworth and Michele Flournoy, two sources with direct knowledge of the decision-making tell Axios.
Why it matters: A nominee for Pentagon chief was noticeably absent when the president-elect rolled out his national security team Tuesday. Flournoy had been widely seen as the likely pick, but Axios is told other factors — race, experience, Biden’s comfort level — have come into play.
Between the lines: Biden’s top advisers feel pressure to announce an African American to a prominent Cabinet role. Earlier this week, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a top ally, said he was disappointed more African Americans had not been included in Biden’s early selections….
image….Jeb Johnson, Biden, Johnson’s wife….Zimbo