White House dodges Wintour ambassador talk

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday refused to address reports that fashion empress Anna Wintour could win a plum post as United States (US) ambassador to London or Paris, but insisted non-diplomats could make good envoys.

Buzz over the Vogue editor-in-chief, and big dollar donor to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign was stoked by a report by Bloomberg News this week, suggesting Mr Obama could reward supporters with top jobs abroad.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said he had no personnel announcements to make, but after some ridicule at the idea of Wintour leading a US embassy, made the case that ambassadors need not necessarily be foreign policy professionals.

"You know, I think that The President, in all of his personnel appointments, looks for talent, wisdom and character in his appointees, and he would do that regardless of the position," Mr Carney said.