Battling to Be the Next Secretary of State

That means Lake and Obama are committed to reorienting U.S. power to combat post-9/11 threats. Their plans to double development aid and use it as a targeted weapon against extremism are well conceived. But Lake failed to move Bill Clinton to act quickly against the genocide in the Balkans, and antiwar critics fear that Obama won't have the strength to follow through on his pledge to end the war in Iraq. As for Hillary Clinton, if any American diplomat can broker a regional solution in Iraq between the warring parties so U.S. troops can head home, it is Holbrooke. But Clinton's heavy reliance on political advisers raises questions about whether she can be bold enough with initiatives abroad and entrenched interests at home.

Although friends say there is a deep rift between the two men, Lake is circumspect about their competition. "Whatever the mythology," he says, "whenever we run into each other, we're very cordial." And he doesn't rule out a job for Holbrooke in an Obama Administration. "Would I say Dick can play no role? Absolutely not." Party leaders hope the two men can reunite behind a nominee. That would be the most comforting outcome for any Democratic President facing a crisis at 3 a.m.