Maine Sen. King: No strong reason to oppose Hagel

The newly elected senator, an independent, said in an interview with The Associated Press that he won't make a final decision on former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination until confirmation hearings are finished. King serves as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing on Jan. 31.

"I start with a presumption that the president should be able to appoint his own people to his Cabinet. So unless there's some strong disqualifying element or quality to the nominee, I start with that positive presumption," King said.

Asked whether he saw a strong disqualifying element or quality with Hagel, King said, "No."

"But I want to see what the testimony is at the hearing and have a chance to talk to him directly," he added.

King said he was scheduled to meet privately with Hagel on Friday, but a King spokesman says the meeting has been moved to next week.

Hagel did meet Thursday with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Leahy had previously expressed his support for the nominee. In a statement, he called Hagel "superb and highly qualified."