Joe: I have my pick for Treasury

Joe Biden revealed Thursday that he has made up his mind about who to nominate as Treasury secretary, describing the person as someone with a centrist political appeal.

Biden made the tease during a press conference in Wilmington, Del., and said he would formally name his nominee for the crucial Cabinet position “just before or just after Thanksgiving.”

“You’ll find it is someone who will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party, from the progressive to the moderate coalitions,” Biden said.

According to reports, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is among a handful of Democrats who’s in the running to potentially be tapped by Biden to head the Treasury Department.

The next Treasury secretary is likely to play a key role in executing the Biden administration’s economic policies at a time when millions of Americans are struggling financially because of the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet nominees need to be confirmed by the Senate, and it’s not yet clear which party will control the upper chamber next year.

Control of the Senate hinges on two runoff elections in Georgia scheduled for Jan. 5.

If the Republican incumbents lose both of those Georgia runoffs, the Senate will be controlled by Democrats. Democratic control of the Senate would all but certainly provide Biden’s Cabinet nominees with a glide path to confirmation.

However, if either or both of the incumbent Georgia Republicans win, the Senate will keep its GOP majority. If the GOP remains in control, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will likely seek to gum up the works for Biden’s Cabinet picks.

Biden’s Treasury tease comes as he’s pushing full steam ahead on his transition to the White House despite President Trump’s unprecedented refusal to admit election defeat over baseless voter fraud claims.

While refusing to concede, Trump is blocking Biden’s transition team from accessing key federal resources, including COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans.