Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke is in line to become President Obama's latest choice for Commerce secretary, according to an administration source quoted by Associated Press.
Gary LockeLocke, who served as governor from 1997-05, could well fit the old adage about the third time being the charm, at least when it comes to the Commerce post.
Obama's first choice, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, dropped out amid allegations regarding the improper awarding of state contracts. And his second pick, New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, backed away from the post citing "irreconcilable conflicts" with the president.
Locke, the first Chinese-American to head a state government, doesn't have Richardson's flair but there was never any hint of corruption surrounding him either. And Locke is a Democrat who is a comfortable ideological fit with the Obama administration.
While Commerce is not regarded as one of the top-tier power posts in the Cabinet, Locke could serve as a voice for the globalists in the new administration. He comes squarely out of the free-trade mindset of the mainstream business community in the Northwest and, since leaving the governorship, has cemented his ties with Chinese leaders as a lawyer at Seattle-based Davis Wright Tremaine.Check out this 1998 speech in Hong Kong, in which Locke said:
Working families need to know that the path to prosperity leads outward-not inward.
To those of us who are engaged in promoting international trade, this seems obvious. But to many Americans, the world of international trade is murky, mysterious, and frighteningly foreign.
Personally, Locke seems like he would fit in with the "No Drama Obama" approach to governing. In Olympia, he was a wonkish, pragmatic figure who was not unnecessarily combative. Even his election races were boring. He won his first race for governor by 16 percentage points and his re-election race by 18 points
