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Democratic Senate Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) announced Monday that he will vote for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to become the next secretary of state, a sign that Rubio is on track to be confirmed as to elected president. Trump’s first day in office with overwhelming support.
“I believe Senator Rubio has a thorough understanding of America’s role internationally, has served honorably on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is a good choice to lead the State Department. I intend to vote yes on his nomination when it comes before the Senate,” Durbin said in a statement.
Durbin noted that he and Rubio “share many similar views on foreign policy” and have “worked closely” to advance human rights around the world, counter the threat posed by China and respond to “sham elections” in Venezuela
“We also jointly called for the release of Uighur political prisoner Gulshan Abbas and accountability for the death of Cuban democracy activist Oswaldo Payá,” he said.
Durbin said he reiterated to Rubio the need to support Ukraine and strengthen the NATO alliance, and expressed concern about Russian aggression toward the Baltic states and other European countries.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, predicted Rubio would likely get a strong bipartisan vote next week.
And he said Rubio could come to the table quickly, possibly even on Trump’s first day in office.
“We’ve done it before,” he said, noting that the Senate quickly confirmed the senator. Hillary Clinton (DN.Y.) when former President Obama nominated her as Secretary of State.
“There are precedents that suggest we want to be cooperative,” he added.
Asked if Rubio would get a lot of votes, he said, “I would think so.”
