Roemer, who represented the South Bend area in Indiana in the US House of Representatives from 1991 to 2003, endorsed Obama during his primary campaign, helping him become the first Democrat to carry the midwestern state in 44 years.

Once seen as in the running to head the CIA, Roemer served on the blue-ribbon commission investigating the Sep 11, 2001, terror attacks on the US and on a key committee to prevent nuclear proliferation. The former lawmaker holds a doctorate and headed the Centre for National Policy, a Washington think-tank, before he was named the envoy to India.