Former Clinton administration official in the mix for Obama's chief of staff

Former Commerce Secretary William Daley is among the candidates to become President Obama's permanent chief of staff.

Daley, an executive with JPMorgan Chase in Chicago, is under consideration to replace Rahm Emanuel in the top White House job, according to multiple reports.

The move would install a Washington veteran with close ties to Wall Street in the chief of staff post, which could placate concerns in the business community that Obama hasn't been receptive to their ideas over the past two years.

ABC's Jake Tapper reported Tuesday morning that Obama had spoken with Daley about the job, but no decisions had been made. Pete Rouse, who has been acting as interim chief of staff, is also under consideration to fill that job permanently, said NBC's Chuck Todd.

Daley would permanently replace Emanuel, who resigned last fall to pursue a bid for mayor in the city of Chicago. Emanuel hopes to succeed outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley, the brother of William Daley. Like Emanuel, Daley would be a choice with strong ties to the president's hometown of Chicago.

The decision comes at a critical point of turnover for the Obama administration, as it pivots toward the back half of its first term and looks toward reelection in 2012. A number of top officials have left their posts, and senior adviser David Axelrod is expected to leave early this year to help organize the 2012 campaign.

If Daley were appointed, it would round out elements of Obama's economic team. The president must also name a successor to Lawrence Summers as chairman of the National Economic Council.

Obama, speaking overnight on Air Force One while returning from his Hawaii vacation, dodged questions on Summers and other personnel changes planned at the White House in the new year.

—This item was first posted on Monday at 5:41 p.m.