After waiting so, so long to be the chairman of a big, important committee (no offense, Small Business Committee), Sen. John Kerry was in a bit of a bind on Tuesday when reporters wanted to talk to him about whether he’d rather run the State Department in the upcoming Obama Administration.
So when reporters inquired about whether he really wants to take up the gavel of the Foreign Relations Committee, what could he say besides “That’s my plan.”
“I’m looking forward to being chairman and doing my work,” he added.
Kerry, D-Mass., has been frequently mentioned as a candidate for secretary of State in the new administration, along with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.
Kerry declined to comment on his own interest in the State job or on the possibility that Clinton’s might be Obama’s choice for the role. But he called Clinton “a terrific person.”
“Let’s wait and see what the president does and go from there,” he said.
Retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., also mentioned as a potential Obama pick, also declined to comment this morning about his interest in the State post or Defense secretary.
The Foreign Relations chairmanship is open, now that the current chairman, Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., has elected as vice president. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., is next in seniority behind Biden, but he plans to remain as chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., follows Kerry in seniority for the position, but he said he expects the gavel to end up in someone else’s hands.
“I’m interested in the work,” he said. “I assume it will not happen, and I’m very happy where I am,” Feingold said.
— Adam Graham-Silverman
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