U.S. Senator Rob Portman Awaits Testimony On Defense Nominee

U.S. Senator from Ohio, Rob Portman says there should always be a presumption in favor of a presidential nominee. But, he says he's not decided yet whether to vote in favor of Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel. Hagel, also a republican, is a former senator from Nebraska. But, Portman says he'll closely watch how the nominee answers questions on Iran, military preparedness and the U-S relationship with Israel. "I do have some very serious concerns about Senator Hagel's views on the issues. So, I will be listening carefully. These are incredibly important issues." Says Portman. Portman characterized his concerns about Hagel's views as "very serious." The Senate Armed Services commitee will conduct the confirmation hearings before the full senate votes.