1.0 link 175706 <![CDATA[Daniel Rooney: Ambassador To Ireland]]> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/17/daniel-rooney-ambassador_n_175706.html WASHINGTON &mdash; President Barack Obama on Tuesday selected Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland, turning to a lifelong Republican who provided the Democrat critical campaign support during the White House race.

The 76-year-old Rooney endorsed Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton during Pennsylvania's contentious Democratic primary; Clinton won the contest last April. Rooney later campaigned for him in Steelers country in western Pennsylvania, and Obama went on to win the state last November.

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