President Obama has just officially nominated Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to take the reins at the Commerce Department. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sure (D-NV) sounds pleased:

I commend President Obama for selecting an outstanding Senate leader to guide our nation's commerce at a critical time for our economy. And I applaud his willingness to include another Republican in his bipartisan Cabinet. Senator Gregg is respected on both sides of the aisle for his impressive intellect and strong commitment to public service.

And why shouldn't Reid be psyched? Gregg may be a Republican who has consistently opposed much of the Democrats' economic agenda, but nominating him was Reid's idea, "at least in part," according to today's New York Times:

The idea of offering the job to Mr. Gregg came, at least in part, from the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. (The two senators are close, aides to both men said.) Mr. Reid mentioned the idea to Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obama's chief of staff, who passed it on to the president-elect.

Gregg and President Obama, the Times explains, "barely knew each other, aside from occasional chats in the Senate gym."