National Government President Obama Nominates Senator Kerry for Secretary of State

Senator John Kerry

BRADENTON – President Obama nominated Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) as Secretary of State on Friday. The move comes in light of strong Republican opposition to U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, because of Rice's role in delivering information related to the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Rice had been the presumptive nominee, but withdrew her name from consideration last week. Several prominent Republicans have alluded to a smooth confirmation were Senator Kerry, the 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee, nominated for the post instead. His vacancy also opens up a key Senate seat in a state where a Republican incumbent had just been defeated.

Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, oversaw a hearing on Benghazi on Thursday that put more heat on the State Department for its failure to adequately respond to requests for additional security in Libya. Senator Scott Brown, a Republican who pulled a major upset in winning the other Massachusetts Senate seat when Senator Edward Kennedy died, only to lose to populist Democrat Elizabeth Warren in November, is widely considered a favorite to seek the seat for the GOP.

Several Democrats have also been mentioned as possible contenders in the traditionally liberal state, including Kennedy's wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy, or even his son, Edward Kennedy Jr. The state also has nine Congressmen, all of whom are Democrats in the Republican-controlled House, and may be tempted to seek a seat in the chamber of Congress controlled by their party.

A win for Republicans would cut their deficit in the Senate and bring them closer toward the possibility of reclaiming the chamber in 2014. After netting three Senate seats in November, Democrats enjoy a 10-vote lead going into 2013, including two independents who caucus with the party.