New York Senator and President-elect Barack Obama's [Images] once bitter rival for the Democratic nomination Hillary Rodham Clinton has again emerged as a frontrunner for the post of secretary of state, US media reported quoting unnamed sources close to the Obama transition team.

The other contenders are Senator Chuck Hagel, Nebraska Republican; Senator  John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, and New Mexico's Democratic governor, Bill Richardson.

The talk of Clinton being in the running resurfaced after Obama named several former aides to President Bill Clinton [Images] to help run his transition effort.

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines had not comment on the issue and referred questions to the Obama transition team, which too had no comment.

The US media speculated that Clinton's nomination for the top State Department post would help heal the rift that emerged in the Democratic Party after a gruelling and bruising race for the Democratic nomination. The rift seemed to have broadened after Obama overlooked Clinton for the vice-presidential ticket and gave to Joe Biden.