Washington (CNN) – A majority of Americans give a thumbs up to Sen. John Kerry becoming the country's next secretary of state, according to a new national survey.
A CNN/ORC International poll released Friday indicates that 57% of the public says it would be good for the country if the senior senator from Massachusetts becomes America's top diplomat, with 32% saying it would be bad for the nation.
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The poll's release comes as a senior administration official confirmed to CNN that President Barack Obama will nominate Friday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee to succeed outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Kerry had always been one of the top contenders for the job, but he became the odds-on-favorite on December 13, when U.S Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice asked the president to take her name out of consideration, citing a "lengthy, disruptive, and costly" confirmation process.
Rice, thought to be the president's first choice for the top diplomatic post, took repeated fire from congressional Republicans for her comments in the aftermath of the September 11 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, which left the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans dead.
The survey indicates a partisan divide over Kerry, with nearly eight in ten Democrats questioned saying Kerry as secretary of state would be good for the country. Independents agree, by a 54%-33% margin, but by a 56%-31% margin, Republicans say it would be bad for the country.
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International December 17-18, with 620 adults nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.
From CNN Politics
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Does anyone really know this guy's past? He is an obvious pick, but not necessarily good. Maybe the question was is Kerry a better pick than Rice. Well yes, yes he is.
Great out with one incompetent one in with another. Wow, what has happened to American leadership?
Democrats – you should read your own comments and see the absolute nonsense you spew out on these Polls. You live in a world of hate and complete ignorance.
And yet none of you dare offer a Republican alternative
Let's face it, we live in Cowboy country wher the guns rule. We do not need a Secretary of State, we need a Secretary of war who keeps the defence industry going. That is what we want. Peace is the greatest enemy of the USA. I think that Kerry can keep us in at least two wars. He may start a new war with Syria to make up for the lost war in Iraq.
Phillip, you're so blinded by your right-wing thinking, that you ignore all the evidence that shows you're WRONG!
A "CNN Poll" says Kerry is a good pick. Jeez louise. Let's go to a "Fox News Poll" and find out how many people think Tom Coburn would be a good pick. As always, CNN, you never disappoint in being one of the worst news services out there (along with MSNBC).
I think he is terrible. Left winger. Putin will have a hay day with this anti war activist. Is this guy really the best we can do as America. I give up.
Kerry? Anti-War? Great ! I'll take it!
I think he the worst choice.. Ever
Didn't Kerry slam those who served in Vietnam as war criminals? Kerry's past is way too muddled to be in this position. As much as I don't like Hillary Clinton, she did a fairly decent job in there.
he weakens our country as much as Obama , His anti American remarks against our soldiers is proof enough , he called them murderers and rapists..this haughty wealthy stuck up punk is the best we can do? than again look who we elected Prez
i don't trust him because the GOP like him and that means they own him or have something on him to make him be a gopher for them. He isn't to be trusted in my eyes, I would have liked Rice even if the GOP were going to fight, they've lost all fights with Obama and it would have just been another defeat for their silly butts.
I am a conservative and I actually think this is OK. I also was OK with job done by HC. The sad part about leadership in American is that I am OK with two people that never should have been a candidate for the job. As someone once said – "if you aim high you will just miss".
For Heavens sake would some of you uneducated idiots look at Kerry's past military service? H e FOUGHT in Viet Nam. For those who may know what a Purple Heart is.. he has three of them, plus a Silver Star and a Bronze star. These were all from his service in Viet Nam.
Kerry is not a good pick for he lied about his Military Career proving he is not trustworthy.
Kerry would be fine as Secretary of State.
My concern is, who would be appointed to fill his Senate seat?
Not that same loser who was just trounced by Elizabeth Warren, one would hope.