The U.S. Senate confirmed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state late Wednesday as President Barack Obama prepared to name key foreign policy advisors and spoke by telephone with Middle Eastern leaders. The Senate voted 94-2 in favor of Clinton's confirmation. Clinton received overwhelming bipartisan support despite continuing conflict-of-interest concerns by some Republicans regarding the acceptance of foreign donations by the charity of her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Senators from both political parties said her quick confirmation was needed so that Obama could begin addressing major foreign policy issues, including two wars, increased Israeli-Palestinian violence, and the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. “It is essential that we provide the president with the tools and resources he needs to effect change, and that starts with putting a national security team in place as soon as possible, said Senator John Kerry (Democrat from Massachusetts), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Obama's presidential rival, Senator John McCain (Republican from Arizona), also supported confirmation of Clinton. “This nation has come together in a way that it has not for some time,” he said. Voters “want us to work together and get to work.” On his first day in office, Obama telephoned four Middle Eastern leaders, and his administration planned to name former Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell as special envoy for the Middle East. Dennis Ross, a former U.S. Middle Eastern negotiator, also was expected to advise Clinton on the region. Following Clinton's confirmation vote, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee planned to endorse Susan Rice to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a position Obama has elevated to the cabinet level.
