Don't be surprised if there's a decided Clintonesque influence in the Interior Department of President-elect Barack Obama. Several Clinton administration officials have been asked to work on the transition team for the incoming president.

For instance, David Hayes, who worked as a deputy Interior secretary during the Clinton years, has been asked to head the transition efforts for Interior. Expected to assist him are John Leshey, who worked as Interior's solicitor during the Clinton administration, and Don Barry, who was assistant secretary of fish, wildlife and parks at the Interior Department.

Now, who will surface as Interior secretary is nothing but pure speculation as this is being written, as quite a few names have been tossed about.

For instance, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, a Democrat from Washington state who long has been an ally of the National Park Service, has been mentioned. So, too, has Sally Jewell, the CEO of Recreation Equipment, Inc. (aka REI); former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (who also has been mentioned as a possible EPA secretary); U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, another Democrat from the Evergreen State; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who early on ran for the Democratic presidential nomination; Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who just was re-elected; Clinton's Fish and Wildlife Service director, Jamie Rappaport Clark; U.S. Rep. George Miller of California; U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, and; even John Leshey, himself.

As you can see, this guessing game can be endless. Any thoughts on who might be best?