Mr Obama announced Colorado Sen Ken Salazar (right) to lead the Interior Department, and former Iowa Gov Tom Vilsack (left) to be agriculture secretary. -- PHOTO:
CHICAGO - PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama is nominating Colorado Sen Ken Salazar to lead the Interior Department, and former Iowa Gov Tom Vilsack to be agriculture secretary.
Mr Obama made the announcement at a Wednesday morning news conference in Chicago, with Mr Salazar and Mr Vilsack at his side.
Mr Salazar is expected to try to tap the nation's energy potential while also protecting natural resources. Mr Obama has said he's looking for that balance.
Mr Vilsack becomes the fourth former Democratic challenger for the 2008 presidential nomination to join Mr Obama's administration. The others are Mr Joe Biden, Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mr Bill Richardson. -- AP
