President Barack Obama's pick for secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, appears to have enough votes to win confirmation from the U.S. Senate. The vote could take place when lawmakers return on Feb. 25.
Says who? One of Hagel's most vocal critics.
Previously:
- McCain Walks Back No-Filibuster Vow
- Will Chuck Hagel Make it to Senate Confirmation?
- Senate Republican Maneuver on Hagel: Is it a Filibuster or Isn't It?
Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," said his former colleague in the Senate would eventually become the next Pentagon chief despite the GOP's filibustering.
"I'm confident that Sen. Hagel will probably have the votes necessary to be confirmed as secretary of defense," McCain said on the television program.
Senate Republicans were stalling Hagel's nomination because they're holding out for more information on Obama's handling of the attacks on an American consulate in Benghzai. "I think it's a reasonable amount of time to have questions answered," McCain said of the delay.
McCain and his party maintain Hagel is not qualified for the position. But most agreed that they should not further delay an up or down vote on an important presidential nomination.
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