PHOENIX (AP) -- Democratic Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano appears to be president-elect Barack Obama's primary choice to be secretary of the Homeland Security Department, and if she is appointed it would hand the governor's office to Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer.

That would give Republicans, who already control the Arizona Legislature, an even more powerful role in shaping the response to a deepening state budget crisis.

Napolitano, 50, surfaced as the top candidate for the job late Wednesday, and Obama advisers told The Associated Press in Washington on Thursday that Napolitano was the likely choice. The advisers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the screening process for Obama's Cabinet.

Napolitano did not personally return calls for comment and her spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday on whether Napolitano had been offered the Cabinet post.

Napolitano told aides during a regularly scheduled staff meeting Thursday that they shouldn't be distracted by news reports regarding her reported move to Obama's administration, spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said.

"Obviously there has been a tremendous amount of reporting on these rumors, but the governor has said many times she is not going to fuel speculation," L'Ecuyer said. "The president-elect will make his announcement when he is ready to do it."

Brewer said in a brief statement that she had not heard from Napolitano and is focusing on certifying Nov. 4 election results. Her spokesman did not return calls for comment.

Napolitano told reporters at her regular press briefing on Wednesday that she wasn't looking for another job.

"I am not campaigning nor seeking a job. I like the job I have right now," Napolitano said. However, she declined to rule out leaving office before her term is up.

Obama doesn't take office until late January, and it isn't known when Napolitano would leave office if she is named Homeland Security Secretary. The U.S. Senate could consider confirmation of Obama's Cabinet choices soon after he takes office on Jan. 20.

However, Cabinet choices often spend significant time preparing for the confirmation process and making preparations to assume their new posts.

Meanwhile, Napolitano and legislative leaders have begun talks regarding a possible December special session on the state's budget crisis.

The state faces a projected $1.2 billion revenue shortfall in the current $9.9 billion budget and an even larger shortfall is anticipated in the next fiscal year.

Napolitano's departure, if it occurs, would be a blow to Democrats in the Republican-led Legislature because they would lose an important ally on spending and other issues. Napolitano has set veto records for Arizona governors.

Brewer, on the other hand, could be expected to be much more in sync with Republican lawmakers.

The 64-year-old Brewer is regarded as a Republican Party stalwart with strong ties to the business-oriented faction of the party.

Before being elected secretary of state in 2002, Brewer served as a legislator and as a Maricopa County supervisor.

If Brewer becomes governor, personnel changes likely will sweep through not only the governor's own staff but also top ranks of executive-branch agencies. Napolitano has been governor since 2003 and few political appointees remain from previous Republican administrations.

If she becomes governor, Brewer would appoint her replacement as secretary of state. That person would not be eligible to fill another midterm gubernatorial vacancy, instead putting Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat, next in line of succession.

Brewer had already been regarded as a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2010, when term limits would bar both she and Napolitano from running for re-election to their current posts.

Napolitano's preprimary endorsement of Obama in February was prized by his campaign as a nod from a female governor, and as a Democrat elected in a Republican-leaning state she was included in early speculation about possible running mates.

Napolitano became Arizona governor in January 2003. She previously served as state attorney general and was the U.S. attorney for Arizona during much of President Bill Clinton's administration.

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AP reporter Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Arizona governor: http://www.governor.state.az.us/

Arizona secretary of state: http://www.azsos.gov/

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