Could Bill Daley now be in the mix for US Ambassador to Ireland?
Now that the former Obama administration chief of staff has pulled his name from the race for Illinois governor there is speculation he could be a candidate for Dublin.
The Irish job has not been filled since Dan Rooney stepped down almost a year ago. It is understood that at least one and perhaps two choices were turned down when background checks came back with problems.
The issue of no ambassador in Dublin for close to a year has become an embarrassing one for the administration who have filled all other major ambassadorial appointments.
The 67-year-old Daley was running behind incumbent governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary but announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing from consideration as he realized he faced an immense drain on his resources.
“I’ve concluded that I cannot commit to what the voters may need,” Daley said.
Insiders said it had proven very difficult for Daley to marshal support among key Illinois legislators who were already committed to the incumbent governor.
Daley served as both Secretary of Commerce and Chief of Staff in Democratic administrations and is brother of former Chicago mayor Richard and son of another, Richard Daley senior. The family traces its roots to Waterford.
As a close associate of Obama and former Chief of Staff the job in Dublin could be a way to land on his feet after the Illinois failure.
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