Senate Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) announced Monday that he will vote for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to be the next secretary of state, putting Rubio on track to be confirmed as the next president. It shows that. Trump's first day in office received overwhelming support.
“Senator Rubio fully understands the role of the United States on an international scale, has served honorably on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and I believe he is the right person to lead the State Department. Durbin said in a statement that he intends to vote in favor of his nomination when it is considered by the Senate.
Durbin said he and Rubio “share many similar views on foreign policy” and work “closely” to promote human rights around the world, counter the threat from China and respond to Venezuela's “fake election.” He said he has been cooperating.
“We also jointly called for the release of Uyghur political prisoner Gulshan Abbas and accountability for the death of Cuban democratic activist Oswaldo Paya.”
Mr. Durbin reiterated to Mr. Rubio the need to support Ukraine and strengthen the NATO alliance, and said he expressed concern about Russian aggression in the Baltic states and other European countries.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, predicted that Rubio would likely win a strong bipartisan vote next week.
And Rubio said he could take the floor soon, perhaps even on Trump's first day in office.
“This has been done before,” he said, noting that the Senate quickly approved then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (DN.Y.), when former President Obama nominated her to be Secretary of State.
“There is precedent that suggests we are collaborative,” she added.
Asked if Mr. Rubio would get the most votes, he said, “I think so.”
