U.S. President-elected Barack Obama is contemplating on more candidates for his cabinet as he started transitional preparation for inauguration on Friday.

Citing an insider source, a CNN report said that Obama has had a list of Washington insiders and high-profile business executives in hand, beginning with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who helped raise Obama to the national political stage, as the secretary of state.

However, two former presidential contestants Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as well as former U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke were also considered for the job, said the report.

The other key position is the secretary of defense whose candidates include Robert Gates, the current position holder, and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, also the attorney general in the state who currently serves in Obama's transition team, was mentioned for the post of the attorney general.

However, Obama's transitional office said on Friday "no personnel announcements" was expected the day after his selection of Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel as his White House chief of staff.

Obama has vowed to diversify his administrative team by recruiting minorities and Republicans officials, as a way to mend the division in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2008)