Obama plans to name choice for attorney general after Nov. elections

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama does not plan to announce his choice for attorney general before the November elections, shielding the nomination from the midterm election politics while setting up a potential year-end showdown with the lame duck Senate.<br /> <br /> Senate Democrats have asked Obama to wait so controversy doesn't arise over whether they will support a specific nominee, and the delay gives Obama more time to consider his options.<br /> <br /> A White House official told The Associated Press Tuesday that the president has not yet decided who he wants to replace outgoing attorney general Eric Holder, a longtime friend who has led the Justice Department the entire six years Obama has been in office. Obama aides did not begin seriously considering candidates until Holder announced on Sept. 25 that he will resign when his replacement is confirmed.<br /> <br /> "I would anticipate that it will take a little bit of time for the work to be done to determine who the right person is for that important task," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. He called on the Senate to "act quickly and in bipartisan fashion to confirm" once the nomination is made.<br /> <br /> The White House is preparing for the prospect of trying to push through a nominee in the year-end congressional session while Democrats still have a 10-seat majority in the Senate. Obama faces the likelihood of an even tougher challenge to win confirmation if he waits until the new Senate is seated early next year, since Republicans are expected to pick up seats in the midterm, if not win outright control.<br /> <br /> Some Senate Republicans have called on Obama to wait until the new Senate is seated in January to make the nomination. Republicans are promising close scrutiny of Obama's nominee after waging a series of battles with Holder.<br /> <br /> Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the leading Republican on the Judiciary Committee that will hold hearings on the nominee, said Democrats are trying to "avoid making clear to the voters of their states where they stand on what could be a controversial choice for attorney general."<br /> <br /> "This timing shows, once again, that the president and Democrat Senate leaders are willing to play politics with important policy decisions," Grassley said.<br /> <br /> The lame duck timetable covers just seven legislative calendar weeks, not accounting time off for holiday recesses. But the White House has pointed out there is precedent for such a move. The day after the 2006 midterm, President George W. Bush nominated Robert Gates as secretary of defense and he was confirmed in less than a month with bipartisan support.