Portman mentioned for new job

Ever since President Bush replaced White House Chief of Staff Andy Card with budget director Josh Bolten, speculation has been rampant about who will replace Treasury Secretary John Snow, who is rumored to be leaving in the next couple of months.

One name that keeps coming up is that of former area Congressman Rob Portman, who has served for the last year as the U.S. trade representative. Portman’s name has been circulated for this post before, but now that he’s already in the Bush administration, the suggestion carries more weight.

What does the Terrace Park Republican have to say? Not much, actually.

Portman spokeswoman Christin Baker said Snow is “doing a good job” promoting the economy and that he’s a “critical part of the president’s economic team.”

She declined to say whether Portman had been asked to take the job or whether he was considering it, instead explaining that Portman has “an aggressive agenda to open markets” and that he’s “focused” on the current Doha round of global trade talks and free trade deals in 14 countries.