First point: There are fewer of them than you'd expect. Every advocacy group and think tank and political operative I've called has said the same thing. "Well, who have you heard?" There's no "B" team. In part, that's because Daschle was of unique stature for a presidential health policy appointment. There just aren't a lot of recent Senate majority leaders with an interest in insurance regulation and a willingness to move into a small White House office to work grueling hours at a task that will probably fail. People are trying to think of replacements, but few candidates have the constellation of skills that Daschle did. But here's who I'm hearing. Tier One. John Podesta: A longshot, but the only player who equals Daschle in stature. Knows everyone in Washington. Knows how to close deals. Knows the issue. Knows the president. Jeanne Lambrew -- the deputy director of the OHR -- was his employee. Could possibly be brought on in a temporary capacity as director of the Office of Health Reform rather than Secretary of Health and Human Services. Would be powerful evidence of Obama's commitment to health reform. The question is whether he'd take the job. Tier Two. Ed Rendell: Bullish governor of Pennsylvania. Made a major play on health reform last year. Could stand up to Summers and Orszag and Emmanuel. Has administrative experience on the level of HHS. Is fairly well-versed in Washington. Kathleen Sebelius: Pros: Former insurance commissioner in Kansas. Knows health care inside and out. Good relationship with Obama. Proven ability to work with Republicans. Knows how to close a legislative deal. High stature. Cons: Doesn't know Washington. Unclear whether she'd want the job. John Kitzhaber: Articulate voice on health reform. Former doctor. Former governor of Oregon. Great media presence. Cons: Doesn't know Washington. Not necessarily good at working with legislatures. Not necessarily good at staying on message. In a way, he's Dean without the baggage. Senators: I'm grouping them all together here. I've heard Kerry, Harkin, Wyden, Durbin and even former senator Bob Graham. This is, as one think tanker put it to me, "evidence that we all got accustomed to the idea of a senator." Wyden probably wouldn't work: He has his own legislation that he's committed to. Graham would be a very weird choice. Neither Kerry nor Harkin are particularly good on health care. Oddly, I haven't heard Jay Rockefeller's name, even though he'd make the most sense. Tier Three. Wonks: In past years, this is the group that would have naturally been in contention. In a way, te Daschle appointment was punching above weight for this position. But the names here mainly center around Jeanne Lambrew, who is already deputy director of the Office of Health Reform and could be elevated to director status. Other health names I've heard include Don Berwick, Judy Feder, and Kim Belshe. But I'd say it's very unlikely that Lambrew gets passed over for another policy expert.
