Former Navy Secretary John Lehman discussed national security concerns that have been raised over the possibility of a terrorist attack during the upcoming presidential transition, and pressed that John McCain would be better prepared to address the threat than Barack Obama.
Speaking in a McCain campaign conference call with former Rep. Scot McInnis (R-Colo.), Lehman, who was recently assigned to oversee a McCain transition, highlighted the Republican candidate's national security experience.
"McCain, as you know, was one of the authors and the key senate sponsor, along with Joe Lieberman, of the 9/11 Commission, and he was the sponsor along with Joe of the legislation to get some 85% of our recommendations through."
Lehman said that although McCain is prepared for a quick transition, he has not yet decided who will serve on his staff.
"No names, no people have been selected. John is not going to address that until the election and he will be right on it the minute after, but he is not taking anything for granted."
However, Lehman stressed that this does not mean there will be a dangerous prolonged absence of staff in the event of a McCain transition.
"The five Republican Secretaries of State, with one exception, have all endorsed and talk regularly with John McCain and he's known for twenty some years in Congress who the people are who know what they're talking about, so he's in touch with all the time with a broad range of people that are going to be included in his administration, but he will not be presumptuous and try to match people to slots."
Lehman added,
"But I know from discussions with him without naming names, that he has a lot of this in his head and it will happen very quickly after he is elected."
McCain prepared for quick transition
Speaking in a McCain campaign conference call with former Rep. Scot McInnis (R-Colo.), Lehman, who was recently assigned to oversee a McCain transition, highlighted the Republican candidate's national security experience.
"McCain, as you know, was one of the authors and the key senate sponsor, along with Joe Lieberman, of the 9/11 Commission, and he was the sponsor along with Joe of the legislation to get some 85% of our recommendations through."
Lehman said that although McCain is prepared for a quick transition, he has not yet decided who will serve on his staff.
"No names, no people have been selected. John is not going to address that until the election and he will be right on it the minute after, but he is not taking anything for granted."
However, Lehman stressed that this does not mean there will be a dangerous prolonged absence of staff in the event of a McCain transition.
"The five Republican Secretaries of State, with one exception, have all endorsed and talk regularly with John McCain and he's known for twenty some years in Congress who the people are who know what they're talking about, so he's in touch with all the time with a broad range of people that are going to be included in his administration, but he will not be presumptuous and try to match people to slots."
Lehman added,
"But I know from discussions with him without naming names, that he has a lot of this in his head and it will happen very quickly after he is elected."