Obama Mulls Options for Veterans Affairs Secretary, Including Tammy Duckworth and Max Cleland

It may not be one of the most headlined positions in the cabinet, but for 20 percent of the American population—veterans and their dependents—the question of whom President-elect Barack Obama will pick as the secretary of veterans affairs is a big one.

Obama has made ambitious promises to veterans, including reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, launching programs against homelessness, and improving mental health treatments. Veterans' organizations say they also expect him to tackle the problem of some 800,000 backlogged disabilities claims and to focus on effective implementation of the new GI bill.

In order to accomplish any of these goals, he'll need someone who can shake up a notoriously slow-moving bureaucracy. Insiders say he's particularly looking for an up-and-comer on the youthful side who can bring change to the VA.

Several names are flying around Washington. One possibility—Chet Edwards, a congressman from Texas—took himself out of the running this week, telling Obama that he'll stay in the House. Here are some of the most talked-about names.

Tammy Duckworth, Illinois veterans affairs director. Many insiders say that Duckworth is the top contender for the spot, even though Duckworth herself has said she hasn't heard from Obama. But she has a number of advantages as Obama picks his team.

First, various veterans' advocates have lauded her for her leadership. In her two years as VA state director, she helped expand programs to offer low-interest home loans for veterans, free screenings for traumatic brain injury, and a 24-hour hotline for post-traumatic stress syndrome sufferers. And as a 40-year-old Army National Guard pilot who lost both legs in Iraq in 2004, she has experienced firsthand the frustrations of the VA disabilities system, a perspective veterans would welcome.

Then there's the fact that her background boosts Obama's message of inclusion and change. Born in Thailand and raised in Hawaii, Duckworth is Asian-American. And she'd be the first woman to serve as head of the VA at a time when women make up 14 percent of the armed forces.

Something else in her favor is that Duckworth is no stranger to Obama; she spoke at this year's Democratic National Convention in his support. She also accompanied Obama for a wreath-laying ceremony on Veterans Day in Chicago, kicking up cabinet conjectures.

Even if Duckworth doesn't wind up in Obama's cabinet, though, it's possible that she'll be following him to Washington. Duckworth, who ran a failed congressional bid in 2006, has been reportedly short-listed to replace Obama in the Senate. She has said that she'd be honored by being considered for either post. But there's no news yet on whether either one has been offered officially.

Max Cleland, former senator and former administrator of the VA. The other front-runner is a familiar one in veterans' circles. At the age of 34, Cleland, a triple amputee for his Vietnam War injuries, took over the VA under President Jimmy Carter. As director, he gained a reputation for reform, pursuing policies that ranged from expanding medical treatment for the disabled to computerizing VA record-keeping.

More recently, Cleland served as a senator from Georgia until he lost a tough re-election fight in 2002. And for Democrats, that loss could be part of the cherry on top for the choice of Cleland. His opponent released ads that asked if the decorated veteran had the courage to lead—damage that, supporters say, his pick as secretary could undo once and for all.