President Bush plans to replace John Snow as U.S. Treasury Secretary and possible successors include Andrew Card, currently the White House chief of staff, the New York Times reported Monday.
A definite decision has been made to replace Snow as soon as a successor is named, an adviser to the White House told the newspaper, but it is unclear how close Bush is to a decision on a replacement or if he has already made one, the Times said.
Aside from Card, other candidates for the Treasury post include former Sen. Phil Gramm and lawyer and venture capitalist Gerald Parsky, Republicans with ties to the White House told the Times.
Card has ties to Bush and is said to have a good rapport with members of Congress and with Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Expectations that Snow would survive Bush's Cabinet make-over for at least six months have rapidly yielded to a belief that he would make a hastier exit. Snow himself said last week that any discussion about whether he stays in his post was a matter between himself and President Bush.
Snow, 65, took the Treasury helm in early 2003 after predecessor Paul O'Neill angrily resigned after breaking with the White House over tax cuts.