GOP leader: Obama's pick for Pentagon chief has broad support

President Barack Obama has chosen former Pentagon second-in-command Ashton Carter to replace Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense, a senior Republican senator said Tuesday. White House officials, however, insisted no final decision has been made.

Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s top Republican, said he was informed of the decision Tuesday morning. He said he backs Obama’s selection.

“I support it very strongly,” Inhofe said. “I’m very pleased he is going to be our secretary of defense. I can’t imagine that he’s going to have opposition to his confirmation.”

Carter is a former deputy defense secretary. If confirmed, he would face the task of leading the United States’ fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. He also would take over the sprawling Pentagon, which has had a tense relationship at times with the Obama White House.

Carter, 60, moved to the top of the White House’s list to replace Hagel, who announced his resignation last week. Carter is well-respected both in the West Wing and at the Pentagon, where he served as chief operating officer from 2011 until last year. His background is in academics, policy, and private sector defense consulting in addition to the numerous positions he has held at the Pentagon. He also has support among Republicans, who will hold the majority in both houses of Congress starting next month.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.