Daschle and Herseth-Sandlin to Advance

 As Jason notes below, rumors are flying that Tom Daschle will be tapped for head of Health and Human Services. My sources tell me it's genuine. Also, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin appears to be the next leader of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the House.

Update:

CNN now reports the Daschle Choice.  CNN also notes this:

Most significantly, Daschle negotiated that he will also serve as the White House health "czar" — or point person — so that he will report directly to the incoming President. The significance is this guarantees that by wearing two hats Daschle, and not White House staffers, will be writing the health care plan that Obama submits to Congress next year.

Update:

This from American Prospect:

CNN is reporting that Tom Daschle will not only be Health and Human Services Secretary, but also health reform czar under the Obama administration. This is huge news, and the clearest evidence yet that Obama means to pursue comprehensive health reform. You don't tap the former Senate Majority Leader to run your health care bureaucracy. That's not his skill set. You tap him to get your health care plan through Congress. You tap him because he understands the parliamentary tricks and has a deep knowledge of the ideologies and incentives of the relevant players. You tap him because you understand that health care reform runs through the Senate. And he accepts because he has been assured that you mean to attempt health care reform.