Obama will induct republicans in his Team

Just two weeks after his historic election, US president-elect Barack Obama yesterday confirmed he would have Republicans in his administration and admitted there were times when he did not know where to begin in trying to deal with the enormous challenges awaiting him in the White House.

In his first interview since the election, Obama acknowledged the daunting nature of assuming office at a time of war and global economic crisis.

"The challenges that we are confronting are enormous and they are multiple. And so there are times during the course of a given day where you think: 'Where do I start in terms of moving - moving things forward?'," the president-elect told CBS television's 60 Minutes programme.
While in Chicago, Obama has been focused on assembling his team in the White House and the cabinet. He told CBS he would have at least one Republican in his cabinet, making good his pledge to welcome powerful personalities with competing views to his White House. But he gave no further details last night.

Obama also gave away nothing about whether Hillary Clinton was on his shortlist of candidates for the post of secretary of state.

The impression that Obama was leaning towards a "team of rivals" including even his most formidable opponent - Clinton - grew over the weekend with neither camp trying to damp down speculation. However, Obama said only that he valued Clinton's advice.

Another potential contender for secretary of state, the New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson, has also met Obama to discuss the post. So far, Obama's transition team has focused on filling positions at the White House which are not contingent on confirmation by the Senate. The choices since then have revealed a mix of campaign loyalists and veterans of Bill Clinton's administration.