WASHINGTON — Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk emerged late Wednesday as the front-runner for an Obama Cabinet post handling international trade, thrusting the pro-trade Kirk into a sensitive balancing act between unions and business interests.
High-level Democrats confirmed that Kirk is a leading contender, and there were reports his nomination would be announced as early as Friday. Reached by phone, Kirk declined to comment.
John Murphy, vice president for international affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Kirk isn’t well-known nationally but seemed to have a “heartening” record of support for free trade and its benefits in Texas.
The trade representative is an ambassador-level post with a staff of more than 200 and offices in Washington, Geneva and Brussels, Belgium. Since the Ford administration, it has come with Cabinet rank.
