Chuck Hagel, John Kerry share similarities as expected Obama Cabinet nominees

By Anne Gearan and Karen DeYoung, Published: December 15

John F. Kerry and Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s likely picks to head his second-term national security cabinet, have much in common, including decorated service in Vietnam and opposition to the Iraq war.

Perhaps more important, they also share the prospect of a quick and painless Senate confirmation if nominated. Avoiding a fight with Republicans would be a boon for Obama, who is wrangling with Congress over taxes and has been through a distracting war of words that scuttled U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice’s expected nomination as secretary of state.

Obama is expected to announce as soon as next week that Kerry, a longtime Democratic senator from Massachusetts, will be his choice to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state. Kerry was regarded as Obama’s second choice until Rice withdrew her name from consideration Thursday amid Republican threats of a bruising Senate confirmation fight.

Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska who is regarded as a moderate, would succeed Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

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