McCain as Armed Services chairman?

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Tuesday night said if Republicans win control of the Senate this year, he would want to be chairman of the Armed Services Committee. 

McCain was asked in an interview on Phoenix radio station KFYI’s “The Mike Broomhead Show” how he would envision a GOP takeover. 

“I would be so happy to be chairman of the Armed Services Committee,” he said. 

McCain said he’s qualified because he can fill a void in the world.

McCain gave up his spot as top Republican on the Armed Services panel last year to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), due to term limits. He was the ranking Republican on the committee for six years through 2012.

Still, many defense observers expect McCain would take the committee gavel if Republicans win the Senate, because McCain was never chairman during his tenure. 

{mosads}”There is no American leadership in the world, and that’s just a fact,” he said. 

Host Mike Broomhead asked McCain who could replace Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in a minority’s leadership position.

“It would probably be [Sen. Charles] Schumer [D-N.Y.] or [Sen. Dick] Durbin [D-Ill.]. … But Harry Reid people might keep it for all I know,” McCain said.

Republicans say they have a chance to take control of the Senate in November.  

Six of the Democrats’ incumbent senators running for reelection are considered vulnerable. 

— This post was updated at 12:41 p.m.