WASHINGTON — Ashton Carter, the former No. 2 authorized at the Pentagon, is a "leading candidate" to be President Obama's nominee to succeed Chuck Hagel as secretary of Defense, three administration officials said Tuesday.
The officials, all speaking on state of privacy because the president's selection is not public, would not authorize previous rumors by CNN and the Washington Post that Carter will be Obama's pick.
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, a key participant of the Armed Services Committee, told the Associated Press on Tuesday dawn that the White House said Carter would be the preference. Inhofe's spokesman later revoked the comment, saying "there was a misunderstanding."
Officials of White House, however, would not authorize that Obama's pick was Carter.
The President Obama has not announce anything yet, said by officials.
Carter treaded down as the deputy secretary of Defense on Dec. 4, 2013. He had obliged as the top assistant to Hagel and his forerunner Leon Panetta.

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