Vilsack possible ag chief? Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack gave up his own long shot presidential bid after just a few months, but he might just win a seat at the table after all. The prominent Iowa Democrat has appeared on almost every published list of possible appointees to be the next U.S. secretary of agriculture under Barack Obama. On Monday, a Washington Post report called him a "near shoo-in." If chosen, Vilsack would continue a long tradition of farm state governors being tapped for the position. Nebraska Republican Gov. Mike Johanns held the post and was succeeded by Ed Schafer, a former North Dakota Republican governor, in October 2007. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Vilsack would make an excellent choice for the job. "We're facing an energy crisis in our country today that continues to threaten the economy," Nelson said. "Agriculture is going to play a major role in this." Nelson, also a former governor, said Vilsack's experience as a governor and state legislator would give him insight into the challenges faced by the nation's farmers and ranchers....