Clinton supporters laud Secretary of State nod

Several ardent local Hillary Clinton supporters are cheering her coming role representing the nation abroad as Secretary of State, even if their first choice was to put her in the Oval Office as president.

"I don't think this is a consolation prize," said Kevin O'Keefe, a college friend and former Clinton White House aide who helped run Hillary Clinton's Illinois primary campaign. "This is a big deal."

As Secretary of State, Clinton will confront international problems from Russia to China, in addition to the ongoing war on Islamic extremism and America's ground wars in two countries.

President-elect Barack Obama praised his former rival's "extraordinary intelligence" and "remarkable work ethic" Monday in announcing his foreign policy team at a news conference in downtown Chicago.

"She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence," Obama said.

In taking the post, some supporters acknowledge, Clinton may be at a disadvantage to run for president in 2016 and it clearly eliminates a potential run against Obama in 2012.

"She has harmed those long-term goals," said state Rep. Jack Franks of Woodstock, who also helped run her Illinois campaign. "But this really shows who she is. She is putting aside her personal gain to help her country."

Clinton, a native of Park Ridge, has a long list of close friends and longtime supporters in the Chicago area. And overall, Monday's announcement marked yet another opportunity for them to see their favorite hometown politician make good.

"I was proud of her," said Kevin Conlon, a Democratic strategist and Clinton friend from Wilmette. "She is truly a tremendously gifted team player who will be a great complement to President Obama."

While just months ago many of her local supporters were strongly pushing her White House bid, today the focus has clearly shifted toward her ability to help Obama as Secretary of State.

"The whole globe is in trouble and we need to concentrate on what is going on now," O'Keefe of Wheaton said, "not in the never, never land of two or three presidential cycles from now."