From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
On the final day of campaigning before Georgia voters choose the winner in the state's Senate runoff, Sarah Palin is offering a last-minute boost to incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.  At their first of four joint rallies this morning, Palin stressed the importance of the seat, telling supporters that Chambliss would help maintain "checks and balances" in a Congress and White House dominated by Democrats.
 

"Saxby doesn't just run with the Washington herd," Palin said in Augusta this morning. "And with one party in control of the House and the Senate and the White House right now, we need now more than ever public servants who will speak for themselves."
 
Although the state was briefly a target for the Obama campaign during the general election, Georgia supported the McCain/Palin ticket by a 52-47 margin. "More than two million of you here in Georgia gave us your vote on November 4th," Palin noted today. "We were honored to carry the state of Georgia. So now we need you to do it again tomorrow, Georgia."
 
Highlighting her family life in much the same way that she did during the presidential campaign, Palin painted the Georgia race as one with far-reaching consequences for the nation. "I am kind of selfishly looking at this to tell you the truth," she said. "It's not for just for Georgia. This is for folks in Alaska and in Hawaii and in Maine and in Washington state and Washington DC. I'm looking at this, you know, I'm a mom with five kids. This is for my kids and their future."

Many Republicans are hoping Palin will help to rally evangelicals and boost turnout for Chambliss in tomorrow's runoff election. Today, the former vice presidential candidate continued to assert that the Republican Party is not cowering but ready to lead - by presenting its own ideas and by working across the aisle.

"We are rebuilding. Republicans may be the opposition party today, right now, perhaps so. But that doesn't mean that we have to be the negative party," she said. "We have our own ideals to serve, and we should always look for ways to work cooperatively with the majority party to serve the common good, because America deserves no less than our greatest effort today."

Palin's appearance is an exclamation point for Chambliss at the end of string of GOP celebrities appearing on the Georgia senator's behalf.  Former presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani have stumped in the state since Nov. 4, and the party's defeated nominee appeared with Chambliss two weeks ago. Palin recounted McCain's visit today, saying, "Sen. McCain came back here because he understands that losing an election does not mean we have to lose our way. He is ready to carry on the good fight in Washington but he needs Saxby to help him do it."
 
President-elect Obama has not campaigned for Chambliss' opponent, Jim Martin, during this run-off, but Obama did record a radio ad for Martin's campaign. Actor/rapper Ludacris, a native of Atlanta, will rally supporters with Martin tonight.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Two statements reacting to Obama's selection are from Chuck Hagel and Bill Clinton. Hagel, it seems, has been shut out from the Obama cabinet. The Nebraska Republican, who accompanied Obama abroad during the campaign, was talked about for VP, State and Defense, but he has been shut out from all three. Bill Clinton, of course, thought his wife at State was a good move, saying, "As an American, I am thankful...."

*** UPDATE *** Even Joe Lieberman (and Rush Limbaugh) have praise for Obama's picks.

LIEBERMAN: "I applaud President-Elect Obama for assembling a talented and bipartisan national security team. At a moment in history when our nation faces both great dangers and great opportunities in our foreign relations, the President-Elect has begun to build an administration that can lead America forward on the world stage with purpose and principle."

Limbaugh, per AP, called the pick of Clinton, "a brilliant stroke." "You know the old phrase, 'You keep your friends close and your enemies closer?' How can she run for president in 2012? She'd have to run against the incumbent and be critical of him -- the one who made her secretary of state," Limbaugh said. 

CHUCK HAGEL:
"The national security team President-Elect Obama has assembled is a serious, experienced and widely respected group of leaders. They are all seasoned professionals. This team gives President-Elect Obama a strong foundation to build a new bipartisan consensus for America's foreign policy that will be required to confront the enormous 21st Century challenges facing America and the world. I congratulate President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden for assembling such an impressive team of strong and capable leaders."

BILL CLINTON:
"As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud. She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities. She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.

"In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a Senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I've known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served."

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is welcoming the appointments of Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, et al, today, praising the choices as a message of confidence to the rest of the world.

She told reporters at a morning photo-op that she had just gotten off the phone with Clinton and that she congratulated the senator.

Pelosi was meeting with governors Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Jim Douglas of Vermont to discuss the impending economic stimulus package. She says that she expects that Congress will have something ready for President Obama shortly after he takes the oath of office on January 20. The new Congress convenes on January 6.

She rejected the notion that the stimulus will be a 1930's style bill oriented solely towards public works projects, saying that the focus will be on "innovation." Rendell mentioned that there is $136 billion in infrastructure projects waiting on the shelf and ready to go once a bill is passed.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
President-elect Obama officially announced his national security team today, naming Hillary Clinton, a top rival for the Democratic nomination with whom he sparred on foreign policy, as his Secretary of State.

Obama also retained Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon, named former Marine Commandant and NATO Supreme Allied Commander retired Gen. James L. Jones as his national security adviser, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland Security and campaign foreign policy adviser and Africa expert Susan Rice as ambassador to the United Nations.

Additionally, Obama officially named Eric Holder attorney general.

Video: President-elect Barack Obama introduces members of his national security team including Hillary Clinton, Bush Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

"In this uncertain world, the time has come for a new beginning -- a new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges. To succeed, we must pursue a new strategy that skillfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power: our military and diplomacy; our intelligence and law enforcement; our economy and the power of our moral example," Obama said in a statement before a news conference this morning making the announcements. "The team that we have assembled here today is uniquely suited to do just that. They share my pragmatism about the use of power, and my sense of purpose about America's role as a leader in the world.

"It is an honor to be a part of this team, led by the President Elect -- a team that will see to it that America can lead the world not only by the example of our power, but also by the power of our example. I believe we have assembled a national security team that is poised to recapture the totality of America's strength," said Vice President-elect Biden.

NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports all six nominees will speak this morning at the news conference.

Brief bios, per the Obama transition team, are below:

Senator Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State
Over nearly four decades in public service, as an attorney, First Lady, Senator, and presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has become one of the nation's foremost champions for children and families and advocates for women's rights and human rights. During the Clinton Administration, she transformed the role of First Lady, fighting for universal health care and helping to lead successful bipartisan efforts to improve the adoption and foster care systems, reduce teen pregnancy, and provide health care to millions of children through the Children's Health Insurance Program. As a representative of the United States, she championed American interests as well as the rights of women and girls in more than eighty countries around the world. In November 2000, Senator Clinton became the first First Lady elected to public office and the first woman elected independently in New York State; she has since won reelection. In the Senate, she has continued to advocate for equal access to health care, education, and economic opportunity for women and girls around the world.  As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Clinton has fought for and secured in law improved health care for members of the National Guard and Reserves and worked to bring our troops home safely and responsibly from Iraq.  She also serves as the only Senate member of the Transformation Advisory Group to the Joint Forces Command, working to modernize our military. And Senator Clinton has continued to fight for quality, affordable health care for every American, working to strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program and expand the use of health information technology. Most recently, as a groundbreaking candidate for President of the United States, Senator Clinton became the first woman ever to win a presidential primary, receiving more than 18 million votes as an advocate for working families and a voice for millions of Americans who have felt invisible to their government.

Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. Before entering his present post, Secretary Gates was the President of Texas A&M University, the nation's seventh largest university. Prior to assuming the presidency of Texas A&M on August 1, 2002, he served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001. Secretary Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. Secretary Gates is the only career officer in CIA's history to rise from entry-level employee to Director. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser at the White House from January 20, 1989, until November 6, 1991, for President George H.W. Bush. Secretary Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has twice received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA's highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Secretary Gates received his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, his master's degree in history from Indiana University, and his doctorate in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University.

Eric Holder, Attorney General
Mr. Holder is a litigation partner at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, DC. During his professional career, Mr. Holder has held a number of significant positions in government.  Upon graduating from Columbia Law School, he moved to Washington, DC and joined the Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General's Honors Program.  In 1988, Mr. Holder was nominated by President Reagan to become an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  He was confirmed by the Senate and his investiture occurred in October of that year.  Over the next five years, Judge Holder presided over hundreds of civil and criminal trials and matters. In 1993, President Clinton nominated Mr. Holder to become the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.  He was confirmed later that year and served as the head of the largest United States Attorneys office in the nation for nearly four years.  In 1997, President Clinton appointed Mr. Holder to serve as Deputy Attorney General, the number two position in the United States Department of Justice.  He became the first African-American to serve as Deputy Attorney General.  Mr. Holder briefly served under President Bush as Acting Attorney General pending the confirmation of Attorney General John Ashcroft. Mr. Holder attended Columbia College, majored in American History, and graduated in 1973.  Mr. Holder then attended Columbia Law School from which he graduated in 1976.  While in law school, he clerked at the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice's Criminal Division.

Governor Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Named one of America's Top Five Governors by Time magazine and one of America's top women leaders by Newsweek, Janet Napolitano stands out as a leader in developing innovative solutions to some of our country's greatest challenges. As Governor of Arizona, she's fought for quality schools, affordable healthcare, sensible economic development, a safe homeland, a secure border, and a government that is run efficiently and responsibly.  She led the successful effort to create a new grade level in public school by offering voluntary full day kindergarten to every Arizona family.  She raised teacher pay, expanded access to health insurance, and saved seniors millions on prescription drugs. Her homeland security background is extensive: as U.S. Attorney for Arizona, Napolitano led the Arizona portion of the domestic terrorism investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing; as Attorney General, she helped write the law to break up human smuggling rings; and as Governor, she implemented the first state homeland security strategy in the nation and opened the first state counter-terrorism center.  She is a leader in coordinating federal, state, local and bi-national homeland security efforts, having presided over large-scale disaster preparedness exercises to ensure well-crafted and functional emergency plans. Napolitano was the first governor to call for the National Guard to assist at the U.S. - Mexico border at federal expense, and is a leading national voice for comprehensive immigration reform. The past chair of the National Governors Association- the first woman in history to hold this position- Janet Napolitano was re-elected in 2006 in a landslide victory as Arizona's 21st Governor. Prior to her election as Governor of Arizona, Napolitano served one term as Arizona Attorney General and four years as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

Susan Rice, Ambassador to the United Nations
Dr. Susan E. Rice served most recently as a Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Obama for America campaign while on leave from the Brookings Institution where she is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Global Economy and Development Programs. Rice currently serves on the Obama-Biden Transition Project Advisory Board. From 1997-2001, she was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Prior to that, Rice served in the White House at the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs and as Director for International Organizations and Peacekeeping. Rice was previously a management consultant at McKinsey and Company. She received her B.A. in History with Honors from Stanford University and her M.Phil. and D.Phil. (Ph.D.) degrees in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.

General Jim Jones, USMC (Ret), National Security Advisor
General Jim Jones, USMC (Ret) is president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber Institute for 21st Century Energy. From July 1999 to January 2003, Jones was the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. After relinquishing command as Commandant, he assumed the positions of Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM), positions he held until December 2006. During this final assignment, he encouraged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to regard global energy as a security issue and advocated that the alliance consider the defense of critical infrastructures as a 21st century collective security mission. Jones retired from active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps February 1, 2007, after more than 40 years of service. In addition to having been awarded national and international military awards, Jones received a bachelor of science degree (1966) and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (2002) from Georgetown University. In June 1985, he graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Obama's security team: Months after "Meet me in Ohio," South Carolina, "D-Punjab," Sniper-gate, those daily Wolfson conference calls, etc., we'll finally see today what most once thought was impossible: Obama teaming up with Hillary Clinton. At a press conference in Chicago at 10:40 am ET, Obama will announce Clinton as his secretary of state, as well as the rest of his national security team. While Clinton is the obvious headliner, it's worth pointing out all the star power at today's event: Bob Gates at Defense, James Jones as NSA, Janet Napolitano at Homeland Security, Eric Holder at Justice, and Susan Rice as UN ambassador. But it's Clinton that will draw the most attention and media scrutiny.

Video: NBC's Chuck Todd gives his first read on President-elect Obama's national security team rollout.

Over the weekend, reports circulated that the deal was sealed when Bill Clinton agreed to release, publicly, the names of all his foundation/library donors, which begs the question: What took so long? Why, again, couldn't Clinton release these names during the primary campaign -- perhaps during the 2007 portion of the primary? This has got to be a bittersweet moment for a lot of Hillary campaign veterans who continue to be perplexed by the stubbornness of dealing with Bill Clinton during campaigns that suddenly become easy issues when bygones are bygones.

*** Focus on Jones, not Clinton: Some advice for our friends in the media, don't focus on Clinton, focus on Jim Jones, someone personally more close with John McCain than Obama. And with an office in the West Wing, it will be Jones who has the day-to-day ear of Obama, not Clinton. In fact, of the three big national security posts, it's possible a President McCain could have picked Jones and Gates as well. This is a throwback to the Bush years, not Bush 43, but Bush 41. Jones and Gates, in particular, seem to be from the Brent Scowcroft school of foreign policy.

*** 'Change' at Foggy Bottom: One more extraneous item about the National security team -- the appointment of Clinton will mean it will be more than a decade since a white male has held the post of Secretary of State. Then again, maybe it's time that we in the media don't need to take notice of facts like this anymore. Isn't that one of the messages the public sent on Election Day?

*** Challenging Obama: The new team will hit the ground running, as evidenced by the Mumbai bombings. Joe Biden said Obama would be tested early, and the siege in Mumbai is an example of just what Obama and his team will have to face. Terrorism was far down the list of concerns among voters in this election, but it will still be a major test of the new president and the world. Managing instability in Afghanistan and combating Al Qaeda's power structure in Northwest Pakistan could be further complicated by tensions between India and nuclear rival Pakistan, who Indian officials were quick to point the finger at for the violence. This is going to be a delicate dance for President Obama. Can Obama deliver on what he promised? Can he use his world popularity to get hard and fast commitments from nations around the world? Talk is nice, as Tom Friedman wrote a couple of weeks ago, but commitments of troops, money and resources are what are really needed. Does the India terrorist attack mean that India-Pakistan is a more important problem and priority for the U.S. to deal with than Mideast peace?

*** Samantha Power is back: Did anyone really think she wouldn't be? In the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" category, the woman who stepped away from Obama's campaign after calling Hillary Clinton a "monster," was listed on Obama's change.gov, per AP, as being part of the Agency Review Team for the State Department. We wonder what that first meeting between Power and Madame Secretary Clinton will be like. (She apparently made a gesture to bury the hatchet.)

*** Don't forget the economy: While national security is sure to be the leading topic, at least at the start of the week, there is the issue of the economy in this country still. Today, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson delivers an update on the economy and the markets. Let's see how Paulson's remarks, plus reports on bond rates, gas prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates affect the Dow. And let's not forget, the reason for a quick appointment of a national security team, which includes holdover Gates, is to make sure things are smooth on that front since the economy will have to garner a lion's share of Obama's attention when he's sworn into office.

*** Legacy watch: President Bush remarked that he wants to be known as liberator of 50 million people, a man who brought peace and someone who fought HIV/AIDS in Africa. It will be tough for history to judge him positively in those first two areas, but Bush does deserve credit for the work he has done in Africa. Today is World AIDS Day and President and Laura Bush will participate in events on the topic today. They present the World AIDS Day Ribbon at the White House, and then the president participates in Rick Warren's Saddleback Forum on Global Health in D.C., where he receives, from this group, an International Medal of Peace. Obama also participates in the forum via taped video remarks, and he meets informally tonight in Philadelphia with members of the Democratic Governor's Association -- ahead of tomorrow's meetings he holds at the National Governor's Association. Also, Biden travels to Boston today for a ceremony at Harvard honoring Sen. Ted Kennedy. The governor's meeting will be interesting in this respect: just like the automakers and financial institutions, these governors will be coming hats-in-hand looking for their own financial bailout.

*** The remaining Senate races: In Georgia, with one day until tomorrow's run-off, Sarah Palin hits four rallies today for Saxby Chambliss (R), in Augusta, Savannah, Perry, and the Atlanta area. Meanwhile, Obama won't be stumping for Jim Martin (D) -- today is essentially his last opportunity to do so -- but Atlanta rapper/actor Ludacris will be when he appears on the steps of the state capitol with Martin tonight. So no Obama, but Ludacris. The numbers game in the Georgia runoff is simple: Chambliss is hoping Palin will spike turnout among his base supporters, white evangelicals, while Martin was hoping Obama could spike turnout among his base, African-Americans. Turnout among both groups will be down, that's a fact. The question is which group will down more from Election Day? Answer that question, and you'll know the winner… In Minnesota, work starts back up on the recount after the Thanksgiving break. According to the latest Minneapolis Star Tribune numbers, Norm Coleman (R) has a 282-vote lead over Al Franken (D) with 88% counted; there are more than 5,600 challenged ballots. Remember, this vote total is a bit confusing to focus on because of the challenged ballot issue. Also, in Ohio's still-undecided 15th CD, Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy trails Republican Steve Stivers by 594 votes, but she hopes that thousands of uncounted absentee and provisional ballots out of Franklin County will help her make up the difference.

*** California dreamin': The big enchilada for the 2010 cycle (barring a certain PA SEN race) will be the campaign to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger as California governor. One potential aspirant, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, releases the first of a 10-part State of the City address on YouTube, which, when put together, will put his State of the City address somewhere just short of eight hours. Each part will be 45 minutes in length; Voters claim they want more unfiltered information; Newsom is testing that premise big time today -- seven and half hours for a State of the City address? Even Fidel Castro couldn't talk that long.

*** A First Read question for Obama: Just askin', but will anyone ask Obama at his press conference today about his desire to dismantle college football's BCS system and replace it with a playoff? (One of your First Read authors still can't comprehend how his Texas Longhorns are behind Oklahoma, when Texas beat them on a neutral field.) Another First Read author reminds his colleague of the following: Texas '08, meet Miami '00. And if you really hate the BCS, there's only one logical result next weekend, an Alabama loss (sorry Joe).

Countdown to Georgia Senate run-off: 1 day Countdown to Electoral Vote Count: 38 days Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 50 days

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Due to the tragic news from the weekend in India, USA Today notes there's no better day than today for Obama to unveil his national security team, which can be best described as foreign policy pragmatists or realists.

Video: Reporter Ketki Angre with NDTV reports on the latest developments from Mumbai, India.

The Washington Post: "To be successful, Gates and Clinton will have to forge a working relationship that often eludes the secretaries of State and Defense even when they are members of the same party. Gates and Clinton will each have their own power base and have each sought assurances of access to Obama. But Obama clearly believes the pair can work together, especially on the difficult task of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. To help in coordinating the competing views, Obama will turn to former Marine Gen. James Jones, who will serve as national security adviser."

More: "The trio that Obama will introduce today represents a centrist team that has already angered some of the president-elect's most ardent liberal supporters, who had expected a foreign policy team with clear, left-leaning credentials."

The Los Angeles Times says that Clinton's nomination as secretary of state is forcing Israelis and Palestinians to recalibrate their expectations. "During the campaign, Obama carried the hopes of many Arabs for a new brand of diplomacy more open to their views… Israelis viewed Obama as a less reliable friend than John McCain, his Republican rival, or Clinton, who touted a deep affinity for the Jewish state in her bid for the Democratic nomination."

"Cautiously, Israelis are now applauding Clinton's all-but-certain nomination as a sign that Obama can be trusted to act firmly against Iran's nuclear ambitions and to refrain from pressing Israel to accept a weak, violence-prone Palestinian state on its borders."

Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that Bill Clinton "agreed to disclose publicly the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation" as part of the deal that cleared the way for his wife to be nominated as secretary of state." The disclosure of contributors is among nine conditions that Mr. Clinton signed off on during discussions with representatives of Mr. Obama; all go beyond the requirements of law. Among other issues, he agreed to incorporate his Clinton Global Initiative separately from his foundation so that he has less direct involvement… Mr. Clinton also agreed to submit his future personal speeches and business activities for review by State Department ethics officials and, if necessary, by the White House counsel's office."

What Women Want: The Boston Globe's Milligan reports that "Obama's expected nomination today of Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state has energized human rights and women's rights activists, who expect the former first lady to bring a dramatic new focus to the plight of women around the globe."

The Obama-friendly Dick Lugar is promising to ask Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton some tough questions, probably regarding the role of Bill Clinton. "It's a big step," Lugar said of Bill Clinton's concessions. But he added, "I think the wide-ranging activities of President Clinton are very substantial on this earth, and they will continue to be." "While saying he believed he would vote to confirm Mrs. Clinton, Senator Lugar said there would likely be continued questions about her husband, because Mr. Clinton's foreign ties and relationships were so extensive. 'I don't know how, given all of our ethics standards now, anyone quite measures up to this who has such cosmic ties,' Mr. Lugar said. 'But I think the Obama campaign people have done a good job in trying to pin down the most important elements.'"

Forget Clinton, the most influential foreign policy voice in the Obama admin is going to be National Security Adviser Jim Jones. "Obama doesn't really know Jones," Time writes. "Back in October, then-candidate Obama said he'd valued Jones advice, but in fact, he'd only spoken with him twice at that point, and Jones was never in his close circle of advisors during the primaries or general election. Jones' political affiliation is not clear, though he has never been called a Democrat, and his lack of public complaint during the planning for the war drew criticism, despite later reports that he had argued with Donald Rumsfeld and then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace. But those who know Jones say his strengths vastly outweigh his perceived weaknesses. In Jones, Obama gets someone with instant and deep understanding of military plans and details. He gets a 6'5" Marine Corps veteran at his side who has firsthand experience of combat theaters from Vietnam to Bosnia and who earned Defense Distinguished Service Medal, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star with 'V' for valor. While the uniformed military will follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief no matter what, the public is more likely to support them when they're being enforced by a decorated veteran with a long career on the battlefield."

Gates will not have to submit to new confirmation hearings.

The Wall Street Journal's Seib makes the case that by keeping Gates at Defense, Obama is siding with "change" because Gates has been implementing new policies from Rumsfeld. "Meanwhile, Mr. Gates and Adm. Mullen are in sync with the president-elect on other key issues. All three want an orderly drawdown in Iraq to make it easier to add troops in Afghanistan. All three worry about the strain both wars are having on the military, especially the Army. All three favor closing the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Mr. Gates and Adm. Mullen aren't always in sync, of course. The defense secretary initially was more skeptical about the need for more troops in Afghanistan, but was swayed by Adm. Mullen, Pentagon officials say. Together, though, they represent something ideologues of left and right can agree they dislike: the rise of pragmatists in the new Obama world."

Napolitano is taking on a mess of an agency, according to the Boston Globe.

The New York Daily News notes that the Senate Dem leadership had put together enough of a package that Clinton could have saved face should something have gone wrong in the Obama talks.

Here's a fun fact from USA Today's Susan Page: "Obama's pick is non-traditional on several fronts. Not since James Garfield appointed James Blaine to head the State Department in 1881 has a president chosen a major political rival for the job. What's more, Clinton's grounding in women's rights contrasts with her predecessors, most of whom had pursued careers in academia, the military or law steeped in U.S. relations with major world powers."

A familiar face to cable viewers, Susan Rice, will be the Ambassador to the UN. A mild surprise to some as Rice is known to be, for instance, as blunt in her assessments of certain situations as one of her predecessors, John Bolton. Also, Obama will raise the UN ambassador post to a Cabinet position in his administration.

The Washington Post's Kamen put together the list of folks who have said no to Obama on specific jobs.

Latinos are not thrilled with the Obama cabinet so far. They're not just unhappy about Bill Richardson being passed over for State, but Napolitano at Homeland Secretary is not seen as a particularly friendly immigration face.

The Left continues to stay muted on Obama's very centrist appointments. Could it be the Left fears the wrath of Obama-nation, who is giving more benefit of the doubt to Obama than liberals? After all, who will fund these liberal groups: Obama donors, right?

Biden is surrounding himself with his loyalists.

OUR OBAMA CABINET SPECULATION LIST:

President's office/staff:

-- Chief of Staff: Rahm Emanuel NAMED (Deputies: Jim Messina NAMED, Mona Sutphen NAMED)

-- Senior Advisers: Valerie Jarrett NAMED, Peter Rouse NAMED, David Axelrod NAMED

-- Political Director: Patrick Gaspard NAMED

-- Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs: Phil Schiliro NAMED

-- White House Counsel: Greg Craig NAMED

-- Press Secretary: Robert Gibbs NAMED

-- Communications Director: Ellen Moran NAMED (Deputy: Dan Pfeiffer NAMED)

-- Director of Scheduling and Advance: Alyssa Mastromonaco NAMED

-- Staff Secretary: Lisa Brown NAMED

-- Cabinet Secretary: Chris Lu NAMED

-- Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary: Desirée Rogers NAMED

Vice President's office:

-- Biden's Chief of staff: Ron Klain NAMED

-- Counselor to the Vice President: Mike Donilon NAMED

-- Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President: Terrell McSweeny NAMED

-- Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison: Evan Ryan NAMED

First Lady's office:

-- Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff: Jackie Norris NAMED (Deputy: Melissa Winter NAMED)

POTENTIAL CABINET MEMBERS:

-- Agriculture: Tom Vilsack, Tom Buis (Natl Farmers Union), Charlie Stenholm, Jim Leach, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Marshall Matz, John Boyd Jr. (pres, Natl Black Farmers Assn)

-- Commerce: Bill Richardson CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Penny Pritzker (reportedly turned down the position), Kathleen Sebelius, John Thompson (Symantec), Ron Kirk (former Dallas mayor), Scott Harris (Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis fndr)

-- Defense: Robert Gates LIKELY, PER NBC NEWS, (Deputy: Richard Danzig / Michelle Flournoy No. 3), Chuck Hagel, Sam Nunn, Jack Reed, Colin Powell, John Hamre, Tim Roemer, Thomas Pickering, Anthony Zinni, Max Cleland, Michele Flounoy, Gen. James Jones

-- Education: Joel Klein (NYC), Linda Darling-Hammond, Kathleen Sebelius, Colin Powell, Jim Hunt, Arne Duncan, Inez Tenenbaum, Michael Bennett, George Miller, Gaston Caperton (fmr WV gov), Bambi Cardenas (pres, U TX-Pan Am, Susan Castillo (OR supt), Michael Cohen (pres, Achieve), Christopher Edley (dean, UC-Berkeley), Michael Johnston (dir, Mapleton Expeditionary Schl of the Arts), VA Gov. Tim Kaine, Michelle Rhee (DC), Sharon Robinson (pres, Assn of Colls for Tchr Ed), Andrew Rotherman/Jonahtan Schnur (fmr Clinton advisers), Diane Shust (dir, NEA govt rels), Paul Vallas (supt, New Orleans Recovery Schl Dist), Bob Wise (fmr WV gov), Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)

-- Energy: Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris, Kathleen Sebelius, Philip Sharp, Ed Rendell, Arnold Schwarzenegger (has said no), Al Gore, Jeff Bingaman, Jennifer Granholm, Steve Westly, Frederico Pena, Dan Reicher, Jason Grumet, Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)

-- HHS: Tom Daschle CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Howard Dean (reportedly ruled out), Eric Whitaker, John Kitzhaber, Kathleen Sebelius

-- Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano LIKELY, PER NBC NEWS, Ray Kelly (NY), William Bratton (L.A.), Tim Roemer, James Lee Witt, Tom Kean Sr, Jane Harman, Artur Davis, Richard Clarke, Manny Diaz, Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Lee Hamilton (though he said he's too old), Jamie Gorelick

-- HUD: Manny Diaz (Miami mayor), Shirley Franklin (Atlanta mayor), Saul Ramirez, Jim Clyburn (reportedly not interested)

-- Interior: Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), , Jay Inslee, John Kitzhaber, Tony Knowles, Ken Salazar, Jamie Rappoport Clark, Brian Schweitzer, Bill Richardson

-- Justice (AG): Eric Holder CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Janet Napolitano, Charles Ogletree, Deval Patrick, James Comey, Patrick Fitzgerald, Artur Davis, Tim Kaine, Jamie Gorelick (but was vice chair of Fannie), Ken Feinberg, Cass Sunstein, Kathleen Sullivan (Stanford Law prof, possible Solicitor General. Also possible SGs: Beth Brinkmann-DC Atty; Preeta Bansal-Skadden, Arps; Elena Kagan-Harvard law dean; Pamela Karlan-Stanford; Teresa Wynn Roseborough-MetLife litigation counsel)

-- Labor: Kathleen Sebelius, Andy Stern (SEIU) (said not interested), Richard Gephardt, George Miller, David Bonior (said he's not interested, suggested: American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell), Xavier Becerra, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Antonio Villaraigosa

-- State: Hillary Clinton CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Jim Steinberg (deputy) CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, John Kerry, Bill Richardson, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, Richard Holbrooke, Chris Dodd, Thomas Pickering, Al Gore, Colin Kahl (CNAS fellow), Tom Daschle

-- Transportation: Ed Rendell, Jane Garvey, Mortimer Downey, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Heminger, James Oberstar, Peter DeFazio, Federico Pena, Jeanette Sadik-Khan, Tim Kaine, John Hickenlooper (Denver mayor), Ron Sims (King County (WA) Executive), Doug Foy (Fmr pres, Convservation Law Fndtn), Parris Glendening (Fmr Gov MD)

-- Treasury: Tim Geithner CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Jon Corzine, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Laura Tyson, Jamie Dimon (JP MorganChase), Jacob "Jack" Lew, Sheila Bair, Indira Nooyi, John Thain (Merrill Lynch)

-- Veterans Affairs: Max Cleland, Tammy Duckworth, Chet Edwards, Arnold Fisher (fmr Fisher House Fndtn chair), James Peake, William Bratton, Anthony G. Brown (MD Lt Gov)

OTHER POSITIONS:

-- National Economic Council Director: Larry Summers NAMED

-- Council of Economic Advisers: Christina Romer (chair), NAMED, Dan Tarullo, Jacob "Jack" Lew, Jason Furman, Austan Goolsbee, Laura Tyson

-- Economic Recovery Advisory Board: Paul Volcker NAMED, Austan Goolsbee (staff director, chief economist) NAMED, Eric E. Schmidt (Google chairman, CEO)

-- Natl Sec Adviser: Gen. James L. Jones (Deputy: Tom Donilon) CONFIRMED BY NBC NEWS, Jim Steinberg, Rand Beers, Susan Rice, Greg Craig

-- NSC: Dennis Ross, Greg Craig, Susan Rice, Tony Lake

-- OMB: Peter Orszag NAMED (Deputy: Rob Nabors NAMED), John Spratt Jr, Gene Sperling, Jason Furman

-- White House Domestic Policy Council Director: Melody Barnes NAMED (Domestic Policy Council Deputy Director: Heather A. Higginbottom NAMED)

-- CIA: Tony Lake, John Brennan (wrote a letter to Obama asking that his name be withdrawn), Chuck Hagel, Michael Hayden, Jami Miscik (fmr CIA dep dir for Intel)

-- DNI: Ret. Adm. Dennis Blair, Tony Lake, John Brennan, Tim Roemer, Rand Beers, Jane Harman, John Abizaid, Evan Bayh

-- FEMA: James Lee Witt

-- EPA: Howard Learner (Pres, Exec. Dir, Environmental Law and Policy Center), Ian Bowles (MA), RFK Jr, Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen McGinty (former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Env Protection), Mary Nichols (chair of California's Air Resources Board), Robert Sussman, Dan Esty, Lisa Jackson (NJ environ commission)

-- FBI: Robert Mueller (term expires 2011)

-- Fed Chair: Ben Bernanke (at least for first year)

-- FDA: Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic), Joshua Sharfstein (Baltimore health commissioner), Janet Woodcock (Big Pharma's choice), Susan Wood (GWU occupational and environmental health professor), Diana Zuckerman (president, National Research Center for Women & Families) Joint Chiefs: Michael Mullen (term ends in late 2009, can expect to be appointed for second term, per tradition)

-- Peace Corps: Chris Shays

-- UN Ambassador: Caroline Kennedy, Susan Rice, Ray Mabus (fmr MS gov)

-- USTR: Cal Dooley (American Chemistry Council president), Daniel K. Tarullo (Georgetown University law professor), Lael Brainard (Brookings Institution vice president), Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty (fmr Clinton White House chief of staff)

-- Climate: Terry Tamminen (climate change, adviser to Schwarzenegger), Al Gore, Carol Browner (Audobon Society), Jonathan Lash (World Resources Inst), Kathleen McGinty, Janet Napolitano, Mary Nichols, Kathleen Sebelius

-- Auto Czar: Jennifer Granholm

-- Secretary of the Army: Mortimer Downey

-- Chief Technology Officer: Julius Genachowski, Shane Robison (HP), Edward Felten (Princeton)

-- FCC: Jonathan Adelstein (FCC commissioner), Antoinette Bush (Skadden), Karen Kornbluh (Obama's former Senate policy director), Blair Levin (fmr chief of staff to then-FCC Commissioner Reid Hunt)

Other mentions for various White House staff posts: Patti Solis Doyle, David Wilhelm, John Rogers, Bill Daley, Cass Sunstein, Bob Bauer, Michael Froman, Federico Pena, Lawrence J. Korb, Carol Browner (Clinton's EPA head), Thomas Perrelli, David Ogden, Cassandra Butts, Denis McDonough (foreign policy, formerly Daschle's foreign policy adviser), Stephanie Cutter

The Los Angeles Times delves into the health care debate and maintains a consensus is developing around "universal protection" which will stop short of "universal coverage."

The head of the UAW is pleading with Congress to pass the bailout for the Automakers. " 'We cannot afford to see these companies fail,' said Ron Gettelfinger, the UAW chief, calling on Congress to approve the aid during a special session the week of Dec. 8. Mr. Gettelfinger said a $25 billion rescue plan for the carmakers is 'not a bailout, this is a loan -- a bridge loan -- that will get us through until we can take a longer-term look at exactly what needs to be done in the industry.'"

Video: Businessman Ted Turner discusses the state of the U.S. auto industry with NBC's Tom Brokaw on "Meet the Press."

Al Gore would support an auto bailout if there are a lot of energy independence strings attached.

Even if the Democrats don't get to 60 in the Senate, the Washington Post writes that they might be able to obtain a filibuster-proof majority for matters like health-care programs, immigration, judicial nominations, and voting rights for DC. "Democrats are counting on moderate Republicans such as Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who have tilted leftward on issues such as Medicare spending and the Iraq war, to provide the votes to block a filibuster… Other potential swing votes are Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), whose socially liberal views make him a prospective Democratic recruit on spending matters and Obama's judicial nominations, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). …

"Senate Democrats, however, must watch their right flank as they craft more sweeping initiatives. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has supported the Bush White House on many tax and budget issues this decade, and a quartet of Democrats elected in 2006 and 2008 – [Mark] Begich, Robert P. Casey Jr. (Pa.), Jon Tester (Mont.), and Mark R. Warner (Va.) -- all ran as centrists."

The 580,000-square-foot Capitol Visitors Center opens its doors at long last tomorrow. Per the Washington Post: "What began six years ago as a huge, muddy cavity next to the U.S. Capitol and has since consumed thousands of tons of concrete, 400,000 carefully selected hunks of stone, and a million and one other bits of metal, marble and history, at a cost of $621 million, will be officially christened tomorrow. "

Per Politico: "Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, has tapped California Rep. Kevin O. McCarthy as his top deputy, cementing an already fruitful partnership between two rising stars in the party." 

In the wake of a New York Times report Tuesday that outlined Rep. Charlie Rangel's ties to a donor who benefited from the congressman's position on an offshore tax loophole, the Washington Post editorialized this weekend that Rangel should step down from his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee while the matter is under an ethics investigation.

 The Washington Post's Paul Kane notes: "Though they are two votes short of their quest for 60 votes -- with two races still undecided -- Democrats say that regular support from a few Republican moderates will allow them to pass bills that were halted in the current Congress by GOP parliamentary roadblocks. These include health-care programs, immigration revisions and presidential nominations."

When at first you don't succeed… The number of the day from CQ Politics: 'Eighteen races in which the same major-party candidates faced off for the second consecutive election were rated as at least somewhat competitive by CQ Politics. And in 15 of those 18 contests, the same candidate won both elections. In fact, the defeated challenger candidates in a dozen of those races actually lost ground, with the incumbents winning more handily in the second round."

CQ handicaps the selection jockeying in New York between potential candidates to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate.

GEORGIA: The Georgia Senate runoff is tomorrow. Which group will turnout in fewer numbers: African-Americans for Martin or evangelicals for Chambliss? Both groups turned out in big numbers in November. Also, "Cash from outside groups has rushed into Georgia, much of it tied to a major battle between the business community and organized labor. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent more than $1 million on advertising in the state. It fears that if Democrats won a filibuster-proof majority, they would pass a bill making it easier for unions to form in businesses. Under the "card check" legislation, companies would recognize unions if a majority of workers signed cards saying they favored a union, replacing the traditional method of a secret ballot among workers. The AFL-CIO said it was sending 10,000 volunteers to Georgia in the final week to drive the union vote. There are about 325,000 union voters in the state, which could make a difference in a low-turnout election."

The results from the Georgia Senate race won't necessarily mean much as far as Senate power is concerned. Being two or three away from 60 means they'll be wooing some moderate GOPers, a doable proposition according to most Senate observers.

Sarah Palin campaigns for Chambliss today in an effort to spike the evangelical turnout.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previews the final day of campaigning for the Senate run-off here. "Alaska governor and former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will appear with Saxby Chambliss at four campaign rallies Monday after headlining private Atlanta fund-raisers Sunday night at the tony W Hotel in Midtown… Jim Martin will spend the day on a statewide bus tour that will take him from a MARTA stop in Atlanta in the morning to Augusta, then Macon and back to a rally at the state Capitol at 5:30 p.m. with civil rights veterans and hip-hop star Ludacris."

MINNESOTA: With 88% of the recount completed, Norm Coleman has a 282-vote lead over Al Franken, with more than 5,000 challenged ballots. The Minneapolis Star Tribune says that the math isn't on Franken's side. "To win his case before the state Canvassing Board, Franken must prevail on more than 6 percent of his challenges of Coleman votes even if Coleman fails to succeed on any of his challenges."

The Franken camp's estimate puts Coleman's lead at just 73 votes. Their "calculation is based in part on the assumption that challenges are typically not sustained and that therefore Coleman's lead is inflated because his side has filed more challenges than Franken's -- 147 more, according to the Star Tribune analysis."

Video: As the recount nears an end in the disputed Minnesota Senate vote between incumbent Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken, the tension increases with each new ballot counted. KARE's John Croman reports.

The Star Tribune also reported that on Wednesday, the state Canvassing Board turned down the Franken campaign's request "to include rejected absentee ballots in the U.S. Senate recount, prompting a Franken attorney to threaten to go all the way to Washington if necessary to get them considered. 'Whether it is at the county level, before the Canvassing Board, before the courts or before the United States Senate, we don't know yet. But we remain confident these votes will be counted,' said Marc Elias, the campaign's lead recount attorney, who added that he won't appeal the board's decision."

More: "Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager for Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, called Elias' [statement] 'a troubling new development.' He asked Franken to accept the recount results if he loses, and to promise Minnesotans 'that he will not allow this election to be overturned by the leadership of the Democratic Senate.'

CALIFORNIA: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is releasing his State of the City address on YouTube via 10 chapters, 45 mins each in length for a total of 7-and-a-half hours of State of the City info. "It also allows the wonky, long-winded Newsom to leave no detail on the cutting-room floor. The mayor's staff will release the speech in 10 chapters this week, and each one is about 45 minutes long. Health, education and the environment are the subjects on tap for today.

"My critics will say, 'It's 7 1/2 hours -- typical,' Newsom said. The benefit, he said, is that the format allows him to delve deeper into topics. Ending homelessness and panhandling would always make a traditional State of the City address, he said, but improving the food stamp program probably would not. Highlights of today's State of the City segments include Newsom's decision to expand the city's unique universal health care program despite major budget cuts to the Public Health Department."

Newsom is a likely candidate for CA GOV in 2010 and no doubt hopes the attention this gimmick gets will bring some statewide attention.

FLORIDA: The leading Dem for any 2010 race in the state, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, said she'll make a decision soon on whether she'd run for governor against GOPer Charlie Crist, for Senate against Republican Mel Martinez, or for re-election.