A new name has emerged among top candidates to succeed Leon Panetta as secretary of defense: Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

According to the Washington Post, Kerry is under consideration because he is losing out to United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in the shuffle to succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

Kerry has long been described as wanting the  Foggy Bottom post, but the Vietnam veteran/protestor's name to head the Pentagon is a surprise in the E-Ring.

Read more here.