Levin endorses Reed as successor on Armed Services panel

Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is clear about who he wants to replace him atop the committee when he retires in 2015: Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

“He’s the perfect guy to replace me,” Levin told reporters Tuesday.

Reed is second in line in seniority behind Levin among Democrats on the Armed Services panel, which makes him the likeliest successor when Levin retires, should Democrats keep control of the Senate.

Levin, who announced last week he was retiring after 2014, has been the top Democrat on the committee for 16 years.

He had only glowing praise for Reed, saying that the committee "couldn’t do better.”

Reed, however, was not interested in entertaining questions Tuesday about whether he could become chairman once Levin is gone.

“Senator Levin is the chairman,” Reed said as he waved off questions from reporters and hopped in an elevator.

A West Point graduate and Army Major, Reed has served in the Senate since 1997 after three terms in the House.

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