Baker: Clinton would be good nominee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker said Sunday that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would be a good choice to fill the post he once held.

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," the Republican said Clinton is "extraordinarily intelligent" and has the respect of people around the world.

"She will be successful depending upon how seamless she is with her president and how they operate together and how he protects her back. And vice versa, how he formulates foreign policy, she picks up on that formulation, and she implements it," Baker said.

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is reportedly in the final vetting process before announcing Clinton's appointment, along with those of other high-level nominees.