Republican ex-defense secretary Cohen backs Hillary Clinton

[September 07, 2016]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen on Wednesday said he will likely vote for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election, citing her experience as secretary of state and former first lady.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign Voter Registration Rally at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, United States September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

"In all likelihood, I would say yes," Cohen who served as defense secretary under former U.S. President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, told MSNBC in an interview when asked if she had earned his vote. "I would not feel comfortable," with Donald Trump, Clinton's Republican rival and a political novice, having access to the nation's nuclear codes, Cohen said. "I'd feel more comfortable with Hillary Clinton, certainly," Cohen told MSNBC. (Reporting by Tim Ahmann, Mohammad Zargham and Susan Heavey; Editing by Eric Walsh) [© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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