John Kerry the next secretary of State?

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon?

Al Gore as Energy secretary?

These names and others are in the air as media speculation runs wild on the bipartisan “star” Cabinet Barack Obama has in mind if elected president. But some of these names might cost Obama votes in the key states he needs on Election Day, so Cabinet announcements will come after the votes are cast.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of U.S. voters say presidential candidates should announce at least some of their Cabinet choices before an election to help voters make a more informed decision.

Just 29% believe that’s not necessary, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Republicans and unaffiliated voters like the idea of Cabinet announcements before the election slightly more than Democrats. So do men voters compared to women.

Can John McCain lure Mayor Michael Bloomberg away from New York City to head the Treasury Department? Or Rudy Giuliani to be attorney general or secretary of Homeland Security?

After all, two-thirds of voters (66%) say the make-up of the Cabinet is Very important to the success of a presidential administration. Only one percent (1%) say the Cabinet choices are not important at all.

Seventy-two percent (72%) say a nominee’s expertise is more important in the selection of Cabinet members than having a Cabinet that is as diverse as American society. But 20% disagree.

Eighty-six percent (86%) of Republicans think expertise is more important than diversity, compared to 62% of Democrats. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of unaffiliated voters agree.

One-third of African-American voters (33%) say a diverse Cabinet is more important than expertise, but only 18% of white voters agree.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll has generally shown Obama up by four or five points nationally during the past week. Prior to that, Obama had consistently enjoyed a five-to-eight point lead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).

While both campaigns already have staff members preparing for a presidential transition and the naming of Cabinet members, news reports indicate that Obama’s effort is further along. Both campaigns are careful, however, not to publicly comment on possible Cabinet selections for fear that they be accused of “measuring the drapes” before the election actually takes place.

Obama's transition team is led by John Podesta, President Clinton's White House chief of staff. John Lehman, a Navy secretary under President Reagan and a member of the commission that investigated the 9/11 terrorist attacks, heads McCain’s team.

Of possible McCain choices, the most obvious appears to be Connecticut’s independent Democratic senator, Joseph Lieberman, for secretary of State.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters say it is a good idea for a president to put members of the opposing political party in his Cabinet, although 23% disagree. Forty-nine percent (49%) of GOP voters favor this, as do 54% of Democrats.

These numbers track closely with the findings in a survey a month ago. But voters also insisted that neither McCain nor Obama should put the losing presidential candidate in his Cabinet.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of voters say they follow Cabinet appointments made by a president at least somewhat closely, with 31% saying Very closely. Only three percent (3%) say they don’t follow the appointments at all.

New polling on the presidential race from Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri and Virginia was released yesterday. See an overview of the state polls and the latest Electoral College projections. A total of 270 Electoral Votes are needed to win the White House (see 50-State Summary).

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free)… let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.