President-Elect Obama's Cabinet Picks Begin Selling Themselves to Senate

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.

Several of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet nominees begin their trek to Capitol Hill today to launch their personal sales pitches to the Senate. Democratic aides said that two arrived today, one tomorrow, and two others are being scheduled. The meet and greet with Senate leaders is the key first step toward confirmation by the appropriate committees and full Senate, though there are no indications yet that the GOP plans to block any of Obama's choices. In fact, many Republicans have told Whispers that they want to hurry the votes so that they can get a look at what Obama plans to do legislatively.

According to the sources, Eric Holder, named as attorney general, was to be the first this week to meet with senators. He was slated to arrive today at 3 p.m. He was to be followed by Tim Geithner, named to run Treasury, at 4:30 p.m. Tomorrow, OMB pick Peter Orszag will gather with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other leaders at 2 p.m. And the Senate and Obama team are arranging courtesy call schedules for Janet Napolitano, named to head Homeland Security, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's pick for State, say the sources.