Speculation over US Treasury Secretary John Snow intensified Wednesday, with the White House said to be hunting for a more effective spokesman for its economic policies.
Talk that Snow, 66, could soon be leaving the administration has redoubled after President George W. Bush gave him only lukewarm backing at a White House event Tuesday.
With Snow seated next to him, Bush said his Treasury chief "has been a valuable member of my administration, and I trust his judgement and appreciate his service".
The Wall Street Journal said Bush's endorsement of Snow, in answer to a question about an expected administration reshuffle, was "muted", while the New York Times said it was "tepid".
The Times quoted a source close to Snow, a former railway executive, as saying he was interested in returning to the private sector "in the next several months".
It reported that Bush's new chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, was said to be looking for a new Treasury secretary "who could more powerfully communicate the administration's message that the American economy is strong".
The Times quoted one Republican in close contact with White House aides as saying the administration expects Snow to step down of his own accord.
"They're waiting for Snow to do the right thing," the Republican source said. "They thought he would have gotten the message right now and submitted his resignation."
The Journal said Snow has told acquaintances that he expects to step down before the end of Bush's second term, possibly this year, to return to business.
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