What influence will Gansler have in choosing Maryland's U.S. attorney?

It still isn't clear exactly what role Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler (D-Bethesda) will have in finding the district of Maryland's next U.S. attorney, but speculation continues that he will play a significant part.

On Thursday, Gansler announced he would have a role in President-elect Barack Obama's transition as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, Gansler's political director, Antigonie Davis, played down rumors that the attorney general himself was interested in becoming a U.S. attorney.

"He likes his job. He's gonna stay serving Marylanders," Davis told PolitickerMD.com. Gansler is frequently rumored to be eying a run for the governorship in 2010.

However, Davis did not say whether Gansler would have a role in finding Maryland's next U.S. attorney.

"At this point, it is premature to speculate on that process," Davis wrote in a text message to PolitickerMD.com.

Maryland's two U.S. Senators traditionally make formal recommendations to incoming presidents, but Gansler's close ties to President-elect Barack Obama could give him significant clout in choosing Maryland's next U.S. attorney. In addition to his current post on the transition team, Gansler co-chaired Maryland for Obama along with U.S. Rep Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) and has served as both an assistant U.S. attorney and a state's attorney.

EARLIER on PolitickerMD.com:

• Gansler crossed off the list for U.S. attorney
• The shortlist for U.S. Attorney