Posted by Jed Lewison on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 5:05 PM Pacific

The SOS & The SOTU

Marc Ambinder has had some fairly interesting stuff today.

First, on Clinton as Secretary of State:

According to Democratic sources, Clinton disclosed the information to only three people and swore them to secrecy.

If true, then Obama-land has been the source of the leaks. But that doesn't seem to be the case:

Initial confirmation seemed to come from an unnamed Clinton spokesperson who allegedly told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that Clinton was in Chicago for "private business."  Mitchell later clarified that she heard the words from a Clinton "adviser," not from Clinton's Senate office.

Now that Obama-land sources are speaking up, it's clear the Secretary of State was just one of the possible roles discussed:

Sources close to the process have said that Obama and Clinton discussed a variety of possible roles she could play in a new administration, including Secretary of State.

If Clinton is offered a cabinet spot and decides to accept it, it's not unreasonable to expect her to want to think about her options and spend time discussing the offer with her close friends and advisers.

So I guess the real story is basically "who knows."

And second, on the State of the Union:

But given that President-elect Obama's inauguration takes place a week or so before the SOTU is traditionally given, the plan, as of right now, is to push the formal State of the Union into early February.  Note: the speech might not be labeled as a "State of the Union" -- it might be labeled an "economic address."