US President Barack Obama has nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg as commerce secretary.
This is widely seen as another effort by the Democratic president to build bipartisan cooperation in his government.
If confirmed, Gregg, a senator from New Hampshire, will become the third Republican that Obama enrolled in his cabinet, following Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Announcing the choice on Tuesday, Obama said US could not afford to get trapped in partisan gridlock, as the country is currently in the worst financial crisis in decades. (www.hxen.com)
Gregg echoed the president, saying it's time to take action towards restoring the US economy.
"This is not a time for partisanship, this is not a time when we should stand in our ideological corners and shout at each other. This is a time to govern, and govern well. Therefore, when the president asked me to join his administration and participate in trying to address the issues of this time, I believed it was my obligation to say "yes." And, I look forward to it with enthusiasm."
Gregg is expected to play a key role in encouraging fellow Republicans to endorse Obama's economic stimulus package of nearly 900 billion U.S. dollars.
