Obama Names Richardson Secretary of Commerce

In his most recent appointment President-Elect Barack Obama named Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico secretary of commerce.

Obama has named about half of his cabinet positions so far. And sees the secretary of commerce as an important position, not a consolation prize for Richardson who some speculated as Obama’s possible secretary of state.

From NY Times:

“Commerce secretary is a pretty good job,” Mr. Obama said, after being asked by a Hispanic reporter about the appointment of Mr. Richardson to a post not considered among the cabinet’s more prestigious or influential.

“I think the notion that somehow commerce secretary is not going to be central to everything we do is fundamentally mistaken.”