DENVER -- Sen. Ken Salazar is expected to be named to President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet as Interior Secretary within a matter of days, the Associated Press reported Monday.

If the Democratic senator accepts the position, it would fall upon fellow Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter to name a replacement, until the senator's term ends in 2010.

Democrat Rep. Mark Udall would become Colorado's senior senator, even though he was elected to the Senate just a month ago.

Names floated as possible successors include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper; Reps. John Salazar, Ed Perlmutter and Diana DeGette; Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet (whose name was being floated for possible Education Secretary) ; outgoing state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff; and former U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland, among others, reported the Denver Post.

Former Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, a close Obama advisor, could also be appointed.

Hickenlooper told 7NEWS Monday that he was going to stay focused on the city. But he did not say he would turn down the seat if it was offered.

"There are a lot of possibilities out there, and rather than engaging in endless speculation, I choose to stay focused on running the city," Hickenlooper said.

Ritter wouldn't say who was on his short list, only releasing a statement about Salazar.

"I have very mixed emotions about this. Ken Salazar has been an extremely effective United States Senator for Colorado these past four years, particularly as a moderate and as a centrist. But if a nomination to join the Obama administration comes to pass, Sen. Salazar would make an equally outstanding Interior secretary for the country, for the West and for Colorado. He has a long and accomplished record on these issues, from his days in the Romer administration to his time as Colorado’s attorney general and a U.S. Senator. For now, though, we shall wait and see what, if anything, transpires," Ritter said.

Speaking to reporters in Chicago this afternoon, Obama said he would name the Interior Secretary later this week.

Salazar met with members of Obama's transition team in Chicago at the end of last week to discuss a possible appointment as interior secretary, reported the Post.

Salazar's office said it had no comment about the report.

Other contenders for the Interior Secretary Post were David J. Hayes, head of Obama's transition teams for energy and natural resources agencies and former deputy interior secretary under Clinton, and John Berry, director of the National Zoo.

Salazar's appointment will round out Obama's environment and energy team. He unveiled most of the team on Monday.

Who Is Ken Salazar?

Salazar is a first-term Colorado Senator who has established a name for himself on public lands and energy resources issues. He headed the Colorado Natural Resources Department from 1990 through 1994.

During his term as the director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, he wrote the Great Outdoors Colorado Amendment that used lottery proceeds for land conservation. He currently serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The Interior Department has broad oversight over the nation's energy resources and environment. It oversees oil and gas drilling on public lands and manages the nation's parks and wildlife refuges.

Salazar, a fifth generation Coloradan, has served in the Senate since 2004, when he defeated Republican Pete Coors for the seat vacated by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

According to his online bio, Salazar's family were farmers and ranchers. Salazar was a farmer for more than 30 years and owned and operated a Dairy Queen and radio stations in Denver and Pueblo.

He served as Colorado's Attorney General and as a member of the Governor's cabinet before being elected senator.

Obama's Cabinet Taking Shape

Day by day, name by name, Obama's Cabinet is taking shape, and other top jobs are being filled.

A look at who has made the list and who is being talked about for jobs that are still open:

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED:

TREASURY SECRETARY: Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
SECRETARY OF STATE: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.
DEFENSE SECRETARY: Robert Gates, holdover from Bush administration.
HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Retired Marine Gen. James Jones.
COMMERCE SECRETARY: Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.
NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL DIRECTOR: Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary.
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR: Peter Orszag, director of Congressional Budget Office.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.
VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: Retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki.
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY: Shaun Donovan, New York City housing commissioner.
ENERGY SECRETARY Steven Chu, director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
EPA ADMINISTRATOR Lisa P. Jackson, former commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.

Top Contenders For Open Posts

CIA DIRECTOR

John Gannon, former deputy director for intelligence at the CIA during Clinton administration.
Jami Miscik, former head of CIA's analytical operations.
Steve Kappes, CIA's current No. 2.
Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., now heads House Homeland Security subcommittee on intelligence.
John McLaughlin, former interim CIA chief.

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

Denny Blair, retired admiral and former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.
Don Kerr, No. 2 official in Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Jami Miscik, former head of CIA's analytical operations.
Former Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind.

LABOR SECRETARY

Ed McElroy, former president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Linda Chavez-Thompson, former AFL-CIO vice president.
Mary Beth Maxwell, executive director of American Rights at Work.
Maria Echaveste, former Clinton White House adviser.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich.

EDUCATION SECRETARY

Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago public schools.
Michael Bennet, superintendent of Denver public schools.
Jon Schnur, founder and chief executive of New Leaders for New Schools.
Paul Vallas, superintendent of Recovery School District in New Orleans.
Linda Darling-Hammond, education professor at Stanford University.
Ray Mabus, former Mississippi governor.
Ronnie Musgrove, former Mississippi governor.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Jane Garvey, former head of Federal Aviation Administration.
Mortimer Downey, former deputy transportation secretary.
Steve Heminger, executive director, San Francisco Bay area transportation commission.
Ron Kirk, former Dallas mayor.

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania agriculture secretary.
Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union.
Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.
Former Rep. Jill Long Thompson, D-Ind.