WASHINGTON — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama’s choice for secretary of health and human services, a White House source said Saturday.
The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said Obama will formally announce the nomination Monday.
A Democratic source in Kansas confirmed that Obama has spoken to Sebelius and said an announcement was expected this week. The source was close to the governor but not authorized to make the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Sebelius, 60, was an early Obama supporter and a finalist for Obama’s ticket before he picked Joe Biden for vice president.
During the general election campaign, she spent 24 days stumping for Obama in 16 states, including key battlegrounds such as Colorado, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Her name had been floated for several Cabinet posts. She said in December that she had removed herself from consideration from a Cabinet job, citing Kansas’ budget problems that needed her attention.
Obama’s first choice for HHS, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew after disclosing he had failed to pay $140,000 taxes and interest.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter praised the selection of Sebelius.
“As a Democratic governor in a traditionally Republican state, she has worked successfully across party lines to take on many tough issues and move Kansas forward,” he said.
Sebelius drew praise for her consumer watchdog role as state insurance commissioner for eight years before becoming governor.
She is in the middle of her second term as governor and is barred from seeking a third term. Many Democrats had hoped she would finish her term and run for the U.S. Senate seat that Republican Sam Brownback is giving up in 2010.
Abortion foes oppose Sebelius because she once had a reception attended by a late-term abortion provider who now faces criminal charges. Democrats say there was never any doubt that Obama would appoint an HHS secretary who supports abortion rights.
Kathleen Sebelius
Age, birth date, location: 60, May 15, 1948, Cincinnati
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Trinity College, Washington, 1970; master of public administration, University of Kansas, 1978
Career:K Kansas governor, 2003-present; state insurance commissioner, 1995-2003; Kansas House, 1987-94; executive director, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, 1978-86; special assistant, Kansas secretary of corrections, 1975-78
Family: Husband, Gary; two sons, Ned and John
