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Jason Reed / Reuters
Sen. John Kerry waves at the end of his speech during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on September 6.
Updated at 7:01 a.m. ET: When he ran for president, many in the GOP slammed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., pilloried for his late opposition to the Vietnam War and his famed flip on the conflict in Iraq. But, as criticism mounted against U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as the apparent frontrunner to become the next secretary of State, Kerry was publicly embraced by Republican colleagues in the Senate as a comparatively slam-dunk candidate to replace Hillary Clinton.
Now that Rice has withdrawn her nomination to the post, as NBC News reported exclusively on Thursday, all eyes turn to the onetime Democratic nominee. An official close to the process told NBC's Andrea Mitchell late Thursday that Kerry is now almost certain to get the job. "There were two people on the list," the person said. "Two minus one is one."
In her withdrawal letter to the president, Rice said she was convinced her nomination would prove "lengthy, disruptive and costly" as Republicans have raised questions about her role in the public response to the 9/11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The exclusive NBC News interview with Rice aired Thursday on Rock Center with Brian Williams.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Brian Williams, Ambassador Susan Rice described the moment she called President Barack Obama and told him to withdraw her name from those he is considering nominating as secretary of state. Rice defends her comments made about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and describes what it's been to like to be in the center of a political firestorm.
In a statement, Kerry praised Rice as an "extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant" and alluded to his own past political battles.
"As someone who has weathered my share of political attacks and understands on a personal level just how difficult politics can be, I've felt for her throughout these last difficult weeks, but I also know that she will continue to serve with great passion and distinction," he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Rice drops out of running for secretary of state
Elected to the Senate in 1984, Kerry rose to national prominence as a foreign policy expert when he returned to the Senate after his failed 2004 presidential bid. The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee since 2009, he has made high-profile visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan and helped negotiate the new arms treaty with Russia that was signed in 2010.
Respected in the upper chamber and nationally as a shaper of the nation's foreign policy, Republicans have indicated that Kerry would face little opposition to be confirmed to the secretary of State post. "I think John Kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues," said Republican Susan Collins, R-Maine, late last month. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a close ally of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, declared that Kerry would have "an easy time" being confirmed in the Senate.
Kerry's confirmation would likely not come without some minor re-litigation of past controversies. One of Congress's richest members, he was painted as an out-of-touch patrician by his presidential foes. The onetime Navy lieutenant was criticized by opponents during his campaign for his high-profile protests of the Vietnam War, including his nationally-covered challenge to a congressional panel in 1971 to defend the deaths of men "for a mistake."
Kerry worked closely with the president in the just-finished election, playing Romney in debate preparations and had been seen as a potential choice to head either the State Department or the Department of Defense. Earlier today a top Pentagon official told NBC News that former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel appeared to be the likely choice for secretary of Defense.
NBC's Chuck Todd details the events that led up to Susan Rice removing her name from consideration for the role of U.S. secretary of state.
But the main headache for Democrats if Kerry is appointed will be the triggering of a special election in Massachusetts next year to replace him. Democrats recently celebrated the ousting of Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a January 2010 special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Elizabeth Warren bested Brown in the heavily blue state by a margin of 54 percent to Brown's 46 percent.
If Kerry is picked, Brown will be viewed as a formidable Republican candidate to replace him. A wider bench of Democrats, including former Senate candidate Martha Coakley, may vie for the nomination.
But whoever wins the potential replacement race would have a grueling path, as would voters weary of statewide contests. Another special election would be the state's second in three years, and Kerry's successor would be up for re-election again in 2014.
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Feisty and Kerry are a couple of libtards that should have been aborted before they were born.
We need less of the welfare proactive people and more working people in this country.
When will you libs wake the Hell up?
Tell that to the "job creators".
The Job creators are the rich people that Obama want's to tax the sh!t out of to create his perfect socialist country.
When they can afford to pour billions into an election, and spend a billion to fly to the moon and back, then yes...
They should have the sh!t taxed out of them.
And BTW Dougi...
If those 'job creators' were responsible capitalists, Socialism wouldn't stand a chance.
Isn't it interesting that the Republicons are salivating over a possible John Kerry appointment, when just a few years ago, the same Republicons and John McCain were swift-boating John Kerry and questioning his patriotism? Amazing this transformation. I wonder if: Kerry is now the favored person by the GOP because he is white and has good hair; and, if the GOP is salivating over the possibility of Kerry's senate seat becoming available, should he become Secretary of State.
The likes of John McCain questioning Susan Rice's intelligence, when she is a Rhodes Scholar, simply shows the dimished man John McCain is. An old white guy from the old establishment is a scary thing.
Right. Getting rid of a liar, and getting an untruthful coward.
Calling Kerry an "untruthful coward", wes?...
I bet you'd be calling him a flip-flopper, if it weren't for the fact that you voted for Romney.
I guess we should all congratulate you for not being a hypocrite, right?
Makes no difference which piece of lying trash dimwhitcrap is nominated. They are both obamy's Monica L.
As I understand it, this will provide Brown another opportunity to run...why would we want to do that?
The republican party is like flypaper for stupid people who are mad at the world because they have no balls.
Every republican I know is like a guy who was never tough thinking he's found a way to sound like a tough guy and making a fool of himself because people with an IQ over 95 see that he's getting blatantly duped about everything, and therefore someone's bit**.
I agree completely Bill. I know well educated Republicans that act as stupid as you could believe. Their beliefs aren't grounded in reason, or anything that resembles logic. They call themselves religious, but are the least religious people I know. "Hell is the impossibility of reason." That must be what it's like being in the Republican Party.
John Colorado, "logic" Liberals have no understanding of the word logic. Liberals first of all suffer from a brain defect that makes them so screwed up. Most are under achievers, hypocrites and phonies not to mention cheap. They will never know success or failure.
wait! wait!
Sarah's the one - a perfect republi-con fit...
This is exactly why I vowed, and many former Republicans I know, to never ever vote for a Republican again. I am sick and tired of their tactics of tearing every one down, because they can't raise themselves up. They act like a bunch of children that have tantrums when they don't get their way. Make no mistake about it: Unless the Conservative Party and their leaders change their tone, they will also be out of the majority in the House. Poll after poll shows Americans decidedly behind the views of the Democrats. The American Public is always a little behind the curve of change, but we're finally seeing the light. The Republicans will go the way of the Dixiecrats of the old South.
John, if that ever happens then you liberals and the rest of the takers will be totally screwed because there will be no doers left to support you.
I'll take a chance with that anyday, joe.
Finding a credible candidate with a clean record would be like finding a virgin in a brothel.
lol
rice definitely lied to the american people regarding benghazi.........but she lied under orders from the born liar obama.....it is difficult to get americans to focus on what happened in libya.....shiat.....half the american people think ben ghazi was a runner-up on american idol......the same half that voted for the re-election of this ass obama......
Dear mcpaddywack. I seriously hope medical science can come up with a cure for your condition. Oh, never mind, Rightwing Nutjobs don't believe in science or reason. I guess your stuck with yourself. Good luck with that.
so i don't respect born liars and you call me right wing?......you have no idea who you are talking to or what you are talking about.........my condition is fine....i don't fall for bullshiat from obama or the media......unlike yourself..
John: McPaddy has more intelligence in his pen!s then you do in your whole body.
He doesn't have the Obamaviris like you do.
Keep up the good work McPaddy.
"intelligence in his penis"...
Guess we all now know what's foremost on your mind, Dougi.
Maybe it has something to do with McPaddy's... wack.
Kerry the anti-soldier candidate, or Rice the perfect example of a buffoon! Rice would NOT have been her own person, so, I go with Kerry ... only because Bush is not eligible!
Demonrats, what a party of traitors and losers! you go from a incompetent puppet of the obama regime, to a commie sympathizer like Jane Fonda lover! a guy who hates America, it is like appointing a Kennedy to be Sec. of State, you think between Kerry and Obama the best interests of this country are going to be recognized? like having PUtin as Sec. of State, just a bunch of commie loving hacks.
obama is a traitor....
Don't forget a thief and liar.
Nothing like a commander in thief!!
I'm a vet but could no longer care less about John McCain. I know he was a POW and a vet. However, that does not give you the right to say anything you want. For McCain to question Rice's intelligence is a joke. McCain is the idiot in this latest episode of typical Rightwing nonsense.
being american gives one the right to say anything one wants.....like this...obama is an ass.......
An angry republican is a dangerous republican.
So now that it's a democrat it will be a "here's your office Mr Kerry" kind of process. It'll be all rose petals and champagne. Watch it happen that way.
President Obama, please don't give in to McCain and Graham, LEAVE, Kerry in the Senate and pick someone else to replace Susan Rice! How about Bill Clinton!
Sure Why not Clinton get free BJs courtesy of the US taxpayer.
Dougi, Dougi, Dougi...
First you talk about intelligence in a penis, and now... blowjobs?
Kerry should bow out of the picture, that will really get to those Republicans who have done their damdest to try to make Rice look bad. It would spoil their plan to get Scott Brown back in the picture, and never fear, they will pour millions in to MA to defeat ANY Democrat.
who said she was in, fool again republicans, he knows how to fool you now, fiscal cliff my aass the ' end of the bush tax cut to the rich ', is the name remember, wow how quick the massive are put to sleep, but not Obama, he remembers, he told the republicans the bush tax cuts for the rich would end
Our main goal is to make him a one term president, you miss Mitch and this is how the republicans where fooled, hey republicans how many terms has Mitch had --- Times Up
special thanks to all the republicans who have awaken to the present day party non-sense and voted for Obama the Democrat, he would not have won without you.
Thank You
s1wdetroit
Free catsup for the entire world with attached apologies!! Why not. What could be better than an SOS who likes to criticize the U.S. Harry Kerry.
do you mean an SOB?
we don't need that lying ass hole Kerry. he is one of the trouble makers. he won't get anything done. we need somebody new.
a lying aHsshole?....then he fits right in with the ass obama and his gang of petty liars....
Why be stupid
This is like returning to a scene of a crime,over,and over,and over again. How about someone new not just retreads.
Let's see if the NitWit Party brings up the Swift Boat BS!!! hahahahahaha
Susan Rice looks very large right now and the ones who look "small" are Collins, McCain, Lindsay and Ayotte.
John McCain called Rice "dumb". Really? John McCain who come up 4th from the bottom of his class of over almost 850 Cadets? Rice was dumb????
rice was incredibly dumb to lie for the ass obama....
Tip of the Day
John Kerry Secretary of State = H. J. Heinz Company Worldwide Market Surge........load up on HNZ stocks. Its a better investment than Hillary's cattle futures windfall when Bill was elected president. Everybody needs a piece of this action.
So, you republitards want the truth about Bengazi?...
Here's the truth- In reality, you all could care less about the four Americans who died... you're just hoping that Obama will be impeached over it.
And silly me... thinking that 'Hope' was just for Democrats...
Give it your best shot 'tards, because at the end of the day, you're still going to be angry, frustrated, and prone to go home, and kick the family dog.