The new-leak of Leon Panetta's selection as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), before it had been shared with senior senators, appears to have created a rift among the Democratic ranks, and President-elect Barack Obama and his aides are putting in efforts to mend the divide.

While Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, was irked that she had not been consulted or informed of the decision, some other Democrats appeared surprised and unbelieving at the news, questioning Obama's pick saying that Panetta lacks much intelligence experience.

Obama aides accepted that the entire process - a big slip in the smooth transition - had been mishandled. Even Biden said that failure to notify Feinstein and others about the Panetta decision was a "mistake".

Meanwhile, Obama countered the criticism put forth by the Democrats, noting that Panetta had spent years evaluating the most sensitive intelligence of the country during his term as the White House chief of staff.

On Tuesday, Obama and his top aides called lawmakers, deployed surrogates and offered public testimonials about Panetta's credentials. Even though Obama is yet to confirm his choice, he laid out the qualifications of the former Congressman, saying: "He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy and . integrity."

In addition, Obama also said that Panetta and other members of the new administration would be "committed to breaking with some of the past practices" that had "tarnished the image" of the intelligence agencies of the country.