Mississippi Democrats on Monday praised President-elect Barack Obama’s choices of who will advise him on security issues, while Republicans took a wait-and-see approach.
The state’s two senators, both Republicans, haven’t said how they’ll vote as the Senate considers Obama’s nominations next month. The Democratic-controlled chamber is expected to approve his picks.
Obama chose a national security team headed by Hillary Rodham Clinton, an opponent in the Democratic primary, and Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration.
Clinton, a New York senator, will serve as secretary of state. Gates will remain as defense secretary.
Other appointees include retired Marine Gen. James Jones as White House national security adviser, former Justice Department official Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of Homeland Security and Susan Rice as ambassador to the United Nations.