Who Will Get Paulson's Nod?

Endorsements are rolling in (former Solicitor General Ted Olson goes with Rudy) and economic policy teams are being assembled. The Big Kahuna, however, is Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. The candidate that can offer the nation the continuing services of Paulson as Treasury Secretary will be the best positioned in terms of economic policy. The policy credibility and the fundraising advantage of a Paulson endorsement is simply enormous. The only other endorsement that could come even close to having that type of advantage is if Robert Rubin signs on to be Hillary's TreasSec. That said, it is highly unlikely that a sitting cabinet member would make an outright endorsement during the primaries. Perhaps it will be left to winks and nods or talented tea leaf reading to determine who could score Paulson for their team, that is if Paulson even wants to serve beyond the Bush administration (I think he does). Assuming I am right then, who could it be? It is obvious that Paulson knows all the candidates well. As CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of NYC's largest employers, clearly he must have had a good working relationship with Rudy while he was mayor. Consider also that Paulson must have worked closely with this group which is led by Glenn Hubbard. Hubbard is with Romney. This is a tough one to call. I'll be watching for clues.