ST. PAUL - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder had not yet announced his resignation today before U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's name came up as a possible replacement.
The Minnesota Democrat was expected to face questions about the prospect this afternoon at an unrelated news conference. President Barack Obama was expected at 3:30 p.m. Central time to announce that Holder is leaving.
For years, national observers have mentioned Klobuchar as a potential presidential candidate or a Supreme Court justice nominee. Her name also occasionally has been floated as an attorney general possibility.
If Klobuchar would be named to replace Holder, who plans to remain in office until senators confirm a successor, Minnesota's governor would name a replacement to serve until the 2016 election. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is in a re-election contest for the Nov. 4 election.
Within moments of news breaking that Justice Department and White House officials said Holder plans to resign, Twitter users were circulating Klobuchar's name.
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Minnesota Republican Chairman Keith Downey got the information from a reporter and said that Holder's move is good news.
"Eric Holder vacating the office of attorney general is a good thing for the country," Downey said, adding that Holder is the most partisan person ever to hold that post. He said "anybody but Holder" would be a better choice.
Politically, Downey said, Republicans would welcome the chance to compete for the Klobuchar seat before her six-year term expires in 2018.
Holder, 63, was the nation's first black attorney general and has made civil rights a cornerstone of his time in office.
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By Don Davis, Forum News Service
