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Former Senator Chris Dodd is shaping up to be the frontrunner to become the next ambassador to Ireland, as Joe Biden is about to become the 46th president of the United States, as The Irish Times understands.
Dodd, who is a close adviser to the president-elect, is the frontrunner for the job, which is currently held by Ed Crawford, Donald Trump’s nominee and a strong Trump supporter.
Dodd was elected senator from Connecticut in 1980 and served 20 years on the House, coinciding with Biden’s time as senator. Before that, he represented Connecticut in the House of Representatives.
He briefly ran for president in 2008, sharing a campaign shot for a debate with his friend and rival, Mr. Biden, who also ran for the Democratic nomination, though neither made it past the primary stage.
He has been a close adviser to Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign. In particular, he chaired a committee set up to choose the former vice president’s running mate, which culminated in the selection of Kamala Harris.
Mr. Dodd, a proud Irish-American, has a home in the west of Ireland and was a member of the Friends of Ireland group on Capitol Hill when he served in Congress. All of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland.
Irish heritage
Other possible names being considered include former ambassador to Portugal Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Anne Finucane, vice president of Bank of America. Biden’s sister Valerie, a close adviser to the president-elect who speaks regularly with pride about the family’s Irish heritage, could also be named, according to sources close to Biden’s campaign.
While ambassadors to the United States are usually political appointments, they must be confirmed by the Senate.
Meanwhile, as Biden prepares to become the next president, he is assembling a transition team.
Among the names mentioned, as Biden considers people for positions, is Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan Boyle, a prominent Irish-American from Hill.
The New York Times reported this weekend that Boyle, 43, may be in line for a position in the administration, noting that he was an early supporter of Biden’s bid for president.
Speaking while campaigning with Boyle in Philadelphia last week, the former vice president commented, “We have an expression where I come from: you never forget the ones who took you to the dance.”
Coronavirus Task Force
Biden is expected to appoint a coronavirus task force on Monday. However, a decision on cabinet members will be made at the end of the month.
The coronavirus team will be co-chaired by former Obama Administration Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and is an indication of Biden’s intention to prioritize formulating a strategy. for the coronavirus pandemic.
Given his long history in Washington, Biden has a large group of advisers and informal allies who have been working closely with him in recent months.
Among those who could be in line for secretary of state are Anthony Blinken, Jake Sullivan and Nicholas Burns. Biden has indicated that he wants to appoint a diverse cabinet, representative of the people of the United States.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has made it known that she is interested in a position. There were rumors that she could be appointed Secretary of the Treasury, a move that would indicate that Biden is adopting a more left-wing policy.
Biden’s campaign and transition team includes many Irish-Americans. These include Sullivan, Mike Donilon, former Congressional Chief of Staff John McCarthy, and Jennifer O’Malley Dillon. The president-elect’s campaign manager is an Irish-American from Boston who is on the board of the Washington Ireland Program.
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