NATIONAL BRIEFING / WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the confirmation of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as secretary of State. The vote was 16-1, with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) opposed.
Clinton still needs the approval of the full Senate to be President-elect Barack Obama’s chief diplomat, but the committee vote was a clear sign that she is likely to be in place at the State Department by Obama’s inauguration.
Clinton, who in the Democratic presidential primaries said Obama was “naive” on foreign policy, indicated in her confirmation hearing that she supports the incoming president’s intent to place diplomacy ahead of confrontation.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
