A 2nd Term for Paige Remains Uncertain

Secretary Likes Job, But White House May Seek Change

Predicting the presidential Cabinet shuffle is one of the most time-honored post-election guessing games in Washington, and the destiny of Secretary of Education Rod Paige may be prime fodder for the latest contest.

Several well-connected observers who spoke on the condition of anonymity said last week that they believed that Mr. Paige’s exit from the Department of Education was likely, and that the front-runner to replace him was Margaret Spellings, President Bush’s chief domestic-policy adviser.

But don’t expect Mr. Paige to step down voluntarily, said John Danielson, his former chief of staff at the department, who is now a principal with the Dilenschneider Group, a management-consulting firm based...