Indian-American Neera Tanden was on Tuesday named co-chair of the transition team of Hillary Clinton. The transition team usually prepares an incoming President to take over the reins the day he or she is sworn in.
The U.S. administration has a large number of political appointees. The new President will have to appoint not only Cabinet members but also fill nearly 4000 posts at various levels. The transition team organises these efforts.
Ms. Tanden, slated to occupy a Cabinet position should Ms. Clinton win the presidency, was a member of the Democratic platform committee. She had been part of Ms. Clinton’s campaign in 2008 and then worked at Mr. Obama’s White House. She is now president of the Centre for American Progress, a Democratic-leaning think tank in Washington D.C.
During a recent conversation with The Hindu , Ms. Tanden had said that unlike Donald Trump, Ms. Clinton was “welcoming of all to the table and that includes Indian-Americans, other South Asians”.
Ken Salazar, former Interior Secretary, is the chairman of the team. Former national security adviser Tom Donilon, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Ms. Clinton’s 2008 campaign manager Maggie Williams are the other co-chairs.
