Gregg exit wouldn’t boost Senate Democrats
Replacement to maintain status quo

Interesting political maneuvering going on here.

President Obama was poised to tap Republican Sen. Judd Gregg as his commerce secretary, but officials cautioned Sunday the move would not deliver Democrats complete control of the Senate as they had hoped.

Leading the pack to replace the fiscal conservative was his former chief of staff and a veteran of the Reagan White House, Bonnie Newman. Officials expect New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, would name her to fill the final two years of Mr. Gregg’s term. Miss Newman would not seek the seat for a full term in 2010.

The move would allow Mr. Gregg to join the Cabinet without giving Democrats’ unchecked power in Congress.

The White house is publically keeping a “hands off” attitude…which you can believe if you really want to, I guess.