The rumors percolating through Washington and an attempt to set the record straight.
Rumor: President-elect Barack Obama's White House will include a political affairs office.
Fact: This is probably true, according to a close-in Obama adviser and a Democrat who has been briefed on this. Though Sen. John McCain promised in his campaign to do away with the office, which manages the president's relationship with all the arms of his party, Obama's team has all but decided to keep the office. It's not clear what role an Obama White House political director will have; its power has ebbed and flowed through the Clinton and Bush years. Currently, the Obama team is debating whether to create an in-house think tank - -a Strategic Initiatives shop -- inside the White Housel; Karl Rove created one for President Bush, and the name itself might prove too controversial.
Rumor: Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle is putting together Obama's health care proposals and is in frequent touch with members of Congress -- Sen. Max Baucus, Rep. John Dingell, Sen. Ted Kennedy -- who are working on the issue.
Fact: This is true.
Rumor: Is Hillary Clinton on the short list to be Secretary of State?
Fact: Unclear. This rumor is not given much credence in Clinton land or in Obama land; it might well be a creation of the press. Or not. What would Joe Biden think about this?
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