It's week three of Fordham's name-the-next-education-secretary daily tracking poll, and Chicago schools CEO Arne Duncan has moved into a commanding lead, with better odds of getting the job than the next five candidates combined. (At least that's according to our ten Washington insiders .) I've decided to be happy about it. While he's not the perfect choice--I really think a governor is better suited to move an agenda on Capitol Hill--he no doubt has reform instincts and a pretty good track record in Chicago. (His NAEP scores are at least as impressive at Joel Klein's, if not more so. What he seems to be lacking is a large press office to promote them nationally.) And being a close personal friend of the President's will surely help him get attention for the education issue.
Meanwhile, lurking in today's results is the specter of Linda Darling-Hammond, who makes the big board for the first time today. And keep your eyes on Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, a rising talent who is expected to get a chair at the Cabinet table. Will it be this one?
Other folks mentioned today: Tim Kaine, Hugh Price, Wendy Kopp, Jim Hunt, Beverly Hall, Ted Mitchell, Graham Spainer, Tom Vilsack, Erskine Bowles, Jim Shelton, Mike Huckabee, Mike Feinberg (a first time mention for the KIPPster), Freeman Hrabowski, and Peter McWalters.
