Gov. Sebelius pulls out of Cabinet running

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, one of President-elect Obama’s earliest and most ardent supporters, has taken her name out of consideration for a Cabinet position.

The two-term Democratic governor said her priorities remain with her state and its deepening budget crisis.

{mosads}The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Sunday that Sebelius had asked the Obama transition team to take her name off the list of those under consideration for key positions.

“Given the extraordinary budget challenges facing our state and my commitment to continuing the progress we’ve made in Kansas, I believe it is important to continue my service as governor of the great state of Kansas,” Sebelius said in a statement released over the weekend.

After being considered by Obama’s vice presidential search team, Sebelius was said to be in the running for a Secretary-level position, potentially in the Labor, Education or Agriculture Departments.

The move by no means ends Sebelius’ political career. At 60 years old and coming off two terms as a popular Democratic governor in a deeply Republican state, many have speculated that Sebelius will consider a bid for Senate in 2010, when she is barred from running for a third term as governor.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is retiring in 2010 and is said to be considering a run for governor.

And a Senate bid from Sebelius would likely clear what would otherwise be a weak Democratic field and leave her pitted against the winner of what could be a bitter primary between two of the state’s three Republican members of Congress.

Both Reps. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) are mulling over their options. Moran has already announced his intention of running for Brownback’s seat, but Tiahrt, who hails from the Wichita area, would make the primary competitive.