War: Who is it good for?

Now that it's becoming increasingly clear that no member of the Bush administration is likely to become John McCain's veep, speculation is shifting to which Cabinet members may stick around for the next administration.

Much of the chatter has focused on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. But a longtime McCain ally said even if the Arizona senator decides to keep Gates on for a few months, it would only be as a placeholder for another Bush administration veteran: fellow Navy and Vietnam veteran Richard L. Armitage.

Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of State under Colin Powell in the first Bush term, is close to McCain. But his appointment might stir controversy among neoconservatives, who distrust Armitage on the war. Then too, he's got confirmation problems, having admitted leaking the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame. One possible backup: Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the Democrat from Connecticut who is now an Independent and follows McCain to many a campaign stop.

Of course, just in case McCain loses to Barack Obama, Gates could still stick around. But Democrats -- mocked during the Clinton administration for their distrust of the Pentagon -- have a pretty strong bench, including former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, already a top Obama advisor, and two former deputy Defense secretaries: John Hamre and Rudy DeLeon.

And there are plenty of Democrats on the Hill who sources say Obama is considering for the top Pentagon post. Topping the list is Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, an Army veteran, and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn.

-- Peter Spiegel

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