U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has appointed three new White Houseadvisers, as speculation continues about his choice for secretary ofstate.
Mr. Obama's transition team Saturday announced theappointments of Valerie Jarett, Phil Schiliro, and Ron Klain to serveon the White House staff.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama is reportedlyconsidering two of his one-time Democratic rivals for the position oftop U.S. diplomat. Democratic officials, speaking anonymously, say thepresident-elect met this week with Senator Hillary Clinton and NewMexico Governor Bill Richardson.
Clinton and Richardson wereboth candidates for the Democratic nomination to the presidency. Richardson dropped out of the race early, but Clinton fought a long andoften bitter contest with Mr. Obama.
Mr. Obama has not yet commented on his pick for secretary of state.
Inother news, the president-elect is to meet Monday with RepublicanSenator John McCain, who lost to Mr. Obama in the presidential election.
Klain, who has worked for Vice President-elect Joseph Biden for years, will serve as the vice president's chief of staff.
Jarett,who has worked in local government in the city of Chicago and in theprivate sector, will now advise the president on intergovernmentrelations and act as a public liaison.
And Schiliro, currently working on Mr. Obama's transition team, will become the president's assistant for legislative affairs.