Sen. John Kerry speaks to reporters as he emerges after a unanimous vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirming his nomination as America’s next top diplomat. (AP)

Patricia Zengerle | Reuters ARABNEWS

WASHINGTON: John Kerry’s nomination as President Barack Obama’s new secretary of state sailed through the US Senate on Tuesday as his fellow senators voted overwhelmingly to confirm him to replace Hillary Clinton as the country’s top diplomat.

The vote was 94-3 in favor. The two senators from Texas, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, all Republicans, were the only no votes.

Three senators did not vote. Kerry, the senior Democratic senator from Massachusetts, voted “present.”
Kerry’s easy confirmation had been expected. The Senate agreed to vote quickly after his confirmation hearing last week. The Foreign Relations Committee had voted unanimously by voice vote earlier on Tuesday to back his nomination.

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