Obama names GOP senator for Commerce Secretary

After being let down by New Mexico Gov. and former presidential candidate Bill Richardson, President Obama now wants Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to join his administration as Commerce Secretary. Gregg is a fairly low-profile Senator, but evidently is a well-trusted Republican politician.

By luring away a Republican in the Senate, of course, generates a lot of buzz whether President Obama and the Democrats are playing a political hand to achieve the elusive 60-seat filibuster-proof majority. New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is a Democrat, and typically the governor appoints a replacement from his own party. However, Gov. Lynch has pledged that another Republican would be named to fill Gregg's seat. Would Lynch mess with the balance of power in appointing a RINO (Republican In Name Only)?

Additionally, is Gregg's appointment as Secretary of Commerce a back-scratching to Senate Republicans regarding the passage of the massive stimulus bill?

GOP loses several senators

The Democrats make gains in the Senate as the GOP candidates Elizabeth Dole (NC), John Sununu (NH), and Gilmore (VA) lost.

The 269 tie

The Washington Times has an interesting scenario which I'm sure both campaigns are aware of: the Electoral College 269 tie:

On Nov. 5, the presidential election winds up in a electoral-college tie, 269-269, the Democrat-controlled House picks Sen. Barack Obama as president, but the Senate, with former Democrat Joe Lieberman voting with Republicans, deadlocks at 50-50, so Vice President Dick Cheney steps in to break the tie to make Republican Sarah Palin his successor.

How crazy would that be for Sen. Lieberman and V.P. Cheney to ultimately shatter the Democrats' White House dream? Based on recent polls, the most plausible scenario would be New Hampshire turning red with its four electoral votes. I'm betting that N.H. is getting a lot of attention from both campaigns because of this.