McCain wants Lieberman for Defense secretary

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is recommending the White House tap former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to be the next Defense secretary.

McCain, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Washington Post that White House chief of staff Denis McDonough contacted him for suggestions on a replacement for outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel.

{mosads}“I said Lieberman,” McCain told the paper.

The two lawmakers were extraordinarily close when they served in the upper chamber together. McCain considered Lieberman for his vice presidential pick during the 2008 campaign.

Last week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also suggested President Obama pick Lieberman to helm the Pentagon.

“I urge the President to give him full and fair consideration for this critical position,” Cruz said in a statement.

McCain, though, told the Post that he did not believe the White House would select his former colleague.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee; Robert Work, Hagel’s current deputy; and Ashton Carter, a former deputy secretary of Defense, are believed to be on the president’s short list.

McCain said he did not believe Johnson is being seriously considered for the post.