According to Times staff writers, President-elect Barack Obama met New York Senator Hillary Clinton in his office in downtown Chicago, to discuss what role she might play in his administration. It is rumored that Obama may ask Clinton - his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination - to be his secretary of State.

Though neither Obama nor Clinton has spoken publicly about the meeting, unidentified aides have told media outlets like CNN that Obama has offered Clinton the aforesaid role.

Ever since his win, Obama has surrounded himself with several former staffers from Clinton's Presidency. Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, served as a top advisor in Clinton's White House.

Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, had earlier expressed disinterest in holding a Cabinet position. However, in an interview on Monday at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, she seemed to indicate that she open to the possibility.

During the course of the interview, Clinton said: "I am happy being a senator from New York; I love this state and this city. I am looking at the long list of things I have to catch up on and do. But I want to be a good partner and I want to do everything I can to make sure his agenda is going to be successful."

The Clinton friends and other Democrats close to both the Clinton and Obama camps cautioned that Obama might simply be sounding out Clinton about what, if anything, she would be interested in.