Outgoing Sen. Conrad no-comments speculation over OMB appointment

Retiring Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) refused to comment when asked by his hometown newspaper whether he would be a candidate to take over the Office of Management and Budget.

Jack Lew, the current OMB director, is taking over as White House chief of staff following the retirement of William Daley earlier this month. Conrad plans to retire from the Senate at the end of the year after 26 years in the chamber.

The North Dakota senator's name has been floated as a potential replacement atop the OMB.

 "The senator does not think it would be appropriate to talk about the OMB position at this time," Sean Neary, director of communications for Conrad, said in an email  to the Bismarck Tribune Friday.

Neary also refused to confirm or deny whether Conrad was under consideration for the position.

---