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John Kerry to appear at Senate confirmation hearing John Kerry appears at Senate confirmation hearing
(35 minutes later)
US Senator John Kerry is to appear before the Senate foreign relations committee to seek confirmation as secretary of state. US Senator John Kerry is appearing before the Senate foreign relations committee to seek confirmation as secretary of state.
President Barack Obama nominated Mr Kerry, 69, to replace Hillary Clinton at the helm of the state department. President Barack Obama nominated Sen Kerry, 69, to replace Hillary Clinton at the helm of the state department.
The Massachusetts Democrat is expected to win easy confirmation.The Massachusetts Democrat is expected to win easy confirmation.
Mr Kerry was Mr Obama's second choice, after UN Ambassador Susan Rice became embroiled in controversy over a raid on a US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Sen Kerry was Mr Obama's second choice, after UN Ambassador Susan Rice became embroiled in controversy over a raid on a US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
A Vietnam veteran and a senator since 1985, Mr Kerry was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, losing the election to George W Bush. A Vietnam veteran and a senator since 1985, Sen Kerry was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, losing the election to George W Bush.
He is chairman of the foreign relations committee that will conduct Thursday's hearing, so the session will be led by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
Special electionSpecial election
He is chairman of the foreign relations committee that will conduct the hearing on Thursday, so the session will be led by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Warmly praising her successor, Mrs Clinton told the panel: "John is the right choice to carry forward the Obama administration's foreign policy and I urge his speedy confirmation."
In a sign of Mr Kerry's smooth path ahead, on Tuesday, Republican Senator John McCain, like Mr Kerry also a Vietnam veteran, joked about the manner of questioning Mr Kerry could expect. Her recommendation was immediately echoed by Republican Senator John McCain.
"We will look forward to interrogating him at his hearing mercilessly," said Mr McCain, who was outspoken in his opposition to Ms Rice's nomination. Sen McCain, also a Vietnam veteran, joked on Tuesday that they would interrogate Sen Kerry "mercilessly" and bring back "water-boarding to get the truth".
"We will bring back, for the only time, water-boarding to get the truth." After service as a naval officer in Vietnam, during which he was wounded on a riverine combat patrol, Sen Kerry graduated from law school at Boston College.
After service as a naval officer in Vietnam, during which he was wounded on a riverine combat patrol, Mr Kerry graduated from law school at Boston College.
He served as a prosecuting attorney before entering politics. After a stint as lieutenant governor of Massachusetts he was elected to the Senate in 1984.He served as a prosecuting attorney before entering politics. After a stint as lieutenant governor of Massachusetts he was elected to the Senate in 1984.
Mr Kerry's expected ascent to secretary of state opens his Senate seat. The seat will temporarily be filled by appointment by Democratic Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; a special election will follow within months. Sen Kerry's expected ascent to secretary of state opens his Senate seat. The seat will temporarily be filled by appointment by Democratic Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; a special election will follow within months.
Ms Rice's nomination bogged down amid fierce opposition from Mr McCain and other Republican senators. Ms Rice's nomination became bogged down amid fierce opposition from Sen McCain and other Republican senators.
They accused her of misleading the American people over the nature of a 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in which four Americans were killed. They accused her of misleading the American people over the nature of an attack on 11 September last year against the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in which four Americans were killed.
Days after the raid, Ms Rice said on a chat show that the attack had grown out of an anti-American protest outside the consulate.Days after the raid, Ms Rice said on a chat show that the attack had grown out of an anti-American protest outside the consulate.
Officials have since said her account was inaccurate - the raid was a planned attack by militants - but Ms Rice denied being intentionally misleading. Officials have since said her account was inaccurate, that the raid was a planned attack by militants, but Ms Rice denied being intentionally misleading.