Trump eyes Petraeus for top diplomat

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Presidentelect Donald Trump stepped up his search on Monday for a new US secretary of state, with the focus on David Petraeus, a former US military commander in Iraq whose mishandling of classified information led to his resignation as CIA chief in 2012.

Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence have met with about 70 people so far as they look to shape their White House and Cabinet team before taking office on Jan. 20. Pence told reporters there would be "a number of very important announcements" on Tuesday.

Republican US Representative Tom Price of Georgia, an orthopedic surgeon, could be named health and human services secretary as early as Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing a dozen unnamed Republican sources.

A source close to the transition team said former Democratic US Representative Harold Ford of Tennessee was in contention to be transportation secretary. Politico, citing a source close to the transition, reported that Republican US Representative Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania was also being considered for that job. The Cabinet posts are subject to Senate confirmation.

Trump's consideration of Petraeus, who has also been mentioned as a contender for the top job at the Pentagon adds a new layer of drama to his unusually public deliberations over the top diplomatic job for his administration.

"Just met with General Petraeus--was very impressed!" Trump said on Twitter shortly after Petraeus, a retired general, left an hour-long meeting with the Republican winner of the Nov. 8 election at Trump Tower in Manhattan.