President Obama might have to rethink his statement that it's more difficult to find a puppy than a commerce secretary. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) has just announced that he's withdrawing his nomination due to "irresolvable conflicts" on the economic stimulus package.
You can read his statement here, but essentially, Gregg admires the President's "willingness to reach across the aisle," but says that he and the administration "are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy." He looks forward to working with the President "to assure the success" of future proposals.
Gregg says that issues with the vetting process didn't play into his decision to withdraw, which sets him apart from other proposed cabinet nominees like Tom Daschle and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who was the first nominee for commerce secretary.
It will be interesting to see who Obama decides to take Gregg's place. Will he choose another Republican like Gregg, or stick with someone who might be more ideologically aligned. Similarly, I wonder if this will influence the next nominee to head up the Department of Health and Human Services. Would he be more likely to consider a Republican in that role, now that the commerce slot is free?
Time will tell, though the next commerce secretary nominee, and any cabinet nominee for that matter, will be under intense scrutiny.