With Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggesting he'll step down next year, pundits are busy making predictions about who will replace him. Some have suggested Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) or former senator Sam Nunn. But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has worked closely with Gates to fine-tune U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, has emerged as an early favorite. Gates, a Republican, is the lone holdover from the Bush administration in President Obama's cabinet, so, in the words of one liberal blogger, the speculation about replacing him with Clinton is "Beltway catnip." But is Clinton really a likely choice to run the Pentagon?
It's not as far-fetched as it sounds: Sure, this is the kind of rumor that Washington loves, says Russell Berman at The Hill. But her supporters say "she has the most credibility with the military of any Democrat." Another plus for President Obama: Appointing Clinton would be "historic," as she would be the first woman to serve as Defense secretary and only the second person, after George C. Marshall, to have served as secretary of both State and Defense.
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