Wyden & HHS: "people are getting way ahead of themselves"
Kari Chisholm
The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes is throwing cold water on the idea of Senator Ron Wyden getting an appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Josh Kardon, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's powerful chief of staff, has been watching the dust storm develop around reports that his boss might be in line to become President Obama's health care czar.On Friday, he decided to speak out, telling me that "people are getting way ahead of themselves" in thinking that Wyden might soon be leaving his Senate seat. He said the senator is focused on his health-care reform bill - which he introduced again Friday for the new session of Congress - and in laying the groundwork for his reelection campaign.
"If the president decides he wants to talk with him, of course he'll talk with the president," Kardon said. "But Sen. Wyden is not seeking a new job, and his current thinking is that he has the best job in America right now."
In addition to doing his day job, Senator Wyden is gearing up a re-election campaign:
Kardon said that the Wyden campaign has just hired a new finance director in Oregon and is focused "on doing what it will take to have him ready to run in 2010." He said that Wyden "certainly intends" to run again, although he has not made a formal announcement.
Just last night, speculating about a special election, KGW's Tracy Barry said "Oooh, I can't wait!" Bummer for her. Looks like there won't be a 2009 special election "stimulus" for Oregon's local TV stations after all.
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5:16 p.m.
Feb 6, '09
[Full disclosure: My firm manages Ron Wyden's campaign and policy promotion website, but I speak only for myself.]
5:41 p.m.
Feb 6, '09
You mean the guy who might be out of work if he takes the job might be trying to quash the speculation while not coming anywhere close to even a pro-forma denial (with the usual wiggle room)...?
Color me shocked. ;-)
Feb 6, '09
If you knew the Wyden-Kardon relationship you would know how ridiculous that statement is. And do you really think Kardon would talk on the record with a reporter without the knowledge and approval of his boss?
I think Kardon is just doing his job, reminding Alley, Walden, Dancer, Atkinson, and other Republicans that the road to the senate still goes through Wyden.
1:14 a.m.
Feb 7, '09
Also: Kardon would likely either go with Wyden to HHS, or run the campaign for a successor Democrat, or hey, maybe he'd run for Senate himself. God knows, there are plenty of former chiefs of staff in Congress.
10:37 a.m.
Feb 10, '09
This doesn't sound like "cold water" at all. It does sound like what someone says when they'll take the job if asked, but haven't been asked. All that "his job is Senate and he's got stuff he wants to do" is pretty pro forma.
<h2>On the other hand, Wyden's name is not bubbling near the top anymore, it seems. I'm not saying he's still a prime candidate, or ever was. I'm simply saying that Kardon's response doesn't mean much.</h2>