Gephardt

For the third day in a row Wednesday, Barack Obama made a key appointment to his economic team.

And, for the third day in a row, no mention of who would represent the Labor Department on his cabinet.

Obama continues to put off naming a Labor Secretary, even as his choices at Homeland Security, Commerce and Health and Human Services are already on track for nomination.

The political tea leaves suggest that Labor may not be as prominent a position in Obama’s administration as other cabinet seats — making it less likely that our local contender for the position, Dick Gephardt, is still in the running.

The Politico’s Ben Smith did report this week that “some unions are pushing” the former St. Louis congressman and House Majority Leader. But Gephardt may be reluctant to give up his lucrative lobbying gig for a position Obama has, so far, not made a priority.

Either way, Obama is in a tricky situation with the Labor post. Unions came up big for Obama in the election, but picking a strong labor partisan — someone like SEIU president Andy Stern — could alienate moderates.

Obama may go with a neutral candidate in this position, someone who’s views are neither opposed — or in-lock step — with organized labor.

President George W. Bush’s Labor Secretary, for instance, is Elaine Chao, former head of the United Way. As Politico points out, she is the only member of Bush’s cabinet to be with him all eight years.