Federal Reserve Governor Ben Bernanke has a leg up in the race to succeed Chairman Alan Greenspan after landing the slot to chair President Bush's economic council, according to Fedologists. "He will have more day-to-day exposure with the President, which could make him more of a candidate," said Robert DeLucia, senior economist and portfolio manager at Prudential Retirement.
Bernanke, along with Martin Feldstein, economics professor at Harvard University, and R. Glenn Hubbard, dean of Columbia Business School, are considered the top contenders for the spot.
Bernanke not only has the right credentials for the post, but the will. "He clearly has an appetite for the position," according to John Herrmann, director of economic commentary at Cantor Viewpoint. He pointed to Bernanke's move to tackle the challenging issues in front of the financial markets as an attempt to raise his profile.
It was not as clear, on the other hand, if the other candidates sought the position. "The dean is committed to working at the university for five years," said Hubbard's spokesman, Richard Najuch, referring to the dean's comments after becoming dean last July. He declined further comment. Feldstein did not return a call by press time.
Still, other Fed watchers doubt a governor would make the transition from the Fed to the White House and back again so quickly.
Bernanke declined an interview request via David Skidmore, Federal Reserve spokesman.
