Why Hillary will be our Next Secretary of State

By Marc Sheppard

Was there a deal struck months ago to get the Clintons on board? Perhaps -- But that's not what makes this a sure thing.

Both Obama and Clinton aides have been ducking questions ever since rumors that Hillary was being considered for State began flying yesterday. Clinton's team insisted that questions about Cabinet or other administration appointments be addressed by Obama's transition team. And when asked yesterday about a possible Chicago meeting planned between the two former rivals, Obama press secretary designate Robert Gibbs played just as coy by responding "We're not going to discuss any meeting he has about appointments."

It's now been verified that there was indeed such a meeting. But of much greater importance is this: On today's Morning Joe, MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell confirmed that two Obama advisors had named Hillary Clinton among those on the very short list for Secretary of State.

And that's what clinches it.

Given the bad blood generated first by a contentious primary and then by what Hillary loyalists regarded as a back-stabbing Obama VP selection, this would be no time to tease the troops Clinton helped ease.

In 2004, John Kerry managed 51% of the female vote. In 2000, Al Gore got 54%. Having topped both with 56% of voting women supporting him on Election Day, Obama knows better than to raise the hopes of the fairer sex -- particularly Hillary stalwarts -- only to crush them once again.

This is a done deal.