3. Jennifer Granholm
Governor of Michigan (D)
Lobbying Obama for her state's industry
The buzz: Granholm has supporters and detractors in Michigan. Blame the state's economy on the Bush administration and the Detroit Three, or blame it on her? Granholm got close to the Obama campaign when Michigan was still a swing state (it later swung so far to Obama that Senator John McCain pulled his campaign from Michigan).
Why do we care? Was key in pushing Obama to express support for the Detroit Three and she went on to lobby Congress in favor of the $25-billion loan-guarantee package during the lame-duck session.
Bonus connection trivia: Granholm "played" Republican candidate Sarah Palin in Joe Biden's practice for the vice-presidential debate.
Her future: Canadian-born Granholm is working to diversify Michigan's economy before term limits end her governorship in 2010. Said to be a shoe-in for a cabinet post or an Obama Supreme Court nomination.
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