Generally speaking during the transition those who are talking don't know and those who know aren't talking. Who are the ones who do know? Where would I focus if I were covering this? There are always three advisers to the presidents who do know. One is presidential personnel advisor. The second is the General Counsel, because once the president decides on a candidate, the next step is through the General Counsel for ethics in government, financial disclosure. After that, the third person who really knows is the assistant to the president for legislative affairs.
Be aware of those who are trying to influence the process. The appointments are very coveted; they're very sought after. People jockey, connive, and scheme to get these appointments and they will use the media to get an appointment. They will leak through an intermediary or through special interest groups or a constituency group who the appointee will be for a particular job, hoping that if that appears in the newspaper it will influence the people in the White House to take a look at the person and maybe that person will get the appointment.
Keep in mind the appointment process is a lengthy process. In other words, when the president says, "Today I announce Mary Smith to be my assistant secretary", that decision was probably made three months ago because it takes at least three months before he can say, "I'm announcing." He has to have Mary Smith's financial disclosure, ethics in government, all of that. And that takes a period of time. The President is hesitant to announce whom he's going to appoint until those clearances are done.
