Signs that Gates will stay at Defense

Politico:

Democratic officials said they see new signs that President-elect Obama will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay in his post.

Keeping Gates at the helm would help give Obama political cover for a gradual reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq, and would enhance his relationship with Gen. David Petraeus, the former U.S. commander in Iraq and now the head of the U.S. Central Command, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

The officials said emissaries of the presidential transition have talked to Gates about very detailed issues like who should be the assistant secretaries, the Pentagon’s structure and his philosophy of how he runs the operation.

The questions were extremely detailed, suggesting Gates is under very serious consideration, according to the officials.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was supportive of the idea when asked about it Sunday by substitute anchor John King on CNN’s “Late Edition.”

“I think we need a good transition there,” Reid said. “You know, it's interesting: My conversation with Secretary Gates, he's not even a Republican. Why wouldn't we want to keep him? He's never been a registered Republican.”

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So will he count as a Republican in Obama's "bipartisan" cabinet? I am still doubtful he will be retained. He was a big supporter of the surge in Iraq that the Democrats opposed and Gates turned out to be right. I doubt the MoveOn Democrats would accept his retention.