As Senator Kerry's chances of taking over the White House have shifted from improbable to plausible and maybe likely if world affairs continue on their worrisome path, the speculation over who who would fill out his cabinet has taken on a more serious bent in New Mexico political circles. The consensus is that Big Bill will not be tapped as Kerry's running mate, but Secretary of State is not out of the question. But while Big Bill's future has been the favorite political parlor game for months, some politicos are already talking about the secretary of interior job and the chance that NM Congressman Tom Udall could be on a short list if Kerry turns out a winner.

"A couple of years ago New York Times columnist Bill Safire mentioned Tom as a possible interior secretary if Al Gore reached the White House. That talk is back again, but you have not heard much about it because of Richardson's high-profile, but it needs to be on the radar because it is not that far-fetched," e mailed one Dem insider and an obvious friend of Tom's.

The interior job is not unfamiliar territory to the Udall family. The congressman's father, Stewart Udall, was tapped for the post after serving a couple of congressional terms out of Arizona. That's the same position the young Udall is in today. He was elected to the House from the North in 98' and is expected to win re-election to a fourth two year term in November.

Also, Tom's uncle, Mo Udall, one of the towering figures in western congressional politics, served for years as chairman of the House Interior committee, now the Natural Resources Committee. Tom Udall is a current member of that panel. Udall's cousin, Mark Udall, also has a strong environmental background, and today is a congressman from Boulder, Colorado.

BEYOND TREE HUGGING

Tom Udall is not known as one trick pony on Capitol Hill, having concerned himself with health care, veterans issues and other matters besides the environment. He did help with legislation that led to the federal government taking over the pristine Baca Ranch up North, but is not perceived in the public mind as tied solely to environmental issues.

Udall, who served eight years as NM Attorney General, has pulled off a pretty good balancing act, serving as an Anglo congressman in a majority Hispanic-Native American district. He has made no major missteps, been a loyal Democratic soldier and has actually received mild criticism for not taking more of a national leadership role considering his family's heritage. I asked a Republican who has followed Udall for his take.

"I think he has the skills for the cabinet. He is not a divisive figure and that's important because you deal with extremes on both sides. On the other hand, he has not demonstrated he has the stature of the Udall's who came before him. It's probably not fair to judge him that way, but if this thing becomes serious his competition will throw it all out there."

But Udall's friends retort that he has been busy cementing his ties to his district in which a popular Hispanic could emerge at any moment to challenge him for the Democratic nomination. (He ran unopposed June 1). They say it's Udall's reserved temperament, ability to give others credit and his demonstrated political agility that have his advocates waving his resume at Kerry. Don't count him out as he would be the third New Mexican to take the cabinet post. Albert Fall filled the job in the 20's and Manuel Lujan, Jr. kept the seat warm in the 90's.

Of course, if Udall did leave his congressional seat to join a Kerry cabinet, it would mean one of the most spirited Democratic contests ever to fill his congressional shoes. For political junkies that alone is reason enough to hope Udall gets the call.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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