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Article posted: 12/16/2012 7:47 PM

Pentagon front-runner has strong Obama ties

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Former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is President Barack Obama's top candidate for defense secretary,

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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As President Barack Obama’s top candidate for defense secretary, former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel is a contrarian Republican moderate and decorated Vietnam combat veteran who is likely to support a more rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.