Google’s Schmidt Close To Getting Commerce Secretary Nomination: Report

Business Insider is reporting, based on unnamed sources, that Google CEO Eric Schmidt is on track to be nominated for the post of Commerce Secretary by President Obama:

Mr. Schmidt picked up an important vote of confidence earlier this week when former Reagan Administration Commerce Department counsel Clyde Prestowitz essentially endorsed Schmidt for the job. That didn’t happen by accident and it’s a strong signal that the GOP DC establishment will support a Schmidt appointment.

Word came that Schmidt was under consideration for the post earlier this month. The vacancy is created because current Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is becoming US ambassador to China

Schmidt is one of several candidates being considered for the position. Others are Pfizer Inc. CEO Jeffrey Kindler and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Schmidt is stepping down from his CEO role at Google after a decade but was to remain in the position of “Executive Chairman.”