Senate Democrats Blast Rice, But Confirmation Appears Assured.

During Senate debate on Condoleezza Rice’s nomination as Secretary of State, Democrats had harsh words for the nominee, but her confirmation appears assured. The debate received ample
coverage on all three networks last night and on this morning’s newspapers. However, as the Los Angeles Times (1/26, Efron) reports, despite strong Democratic criticism, Rice “is expected to win confirmation easily in a Senate vote scheduled for Wednesday.” But “Senate staffers said at least 10 and as many as 20 senators were expected to vote against her nomination. If so, Rice would become the first secretary of State not to win unanimous confirmation since 1981, when six senators voted against the nomination of Alexander M. Haig.” Roll Call (1/26, Kane) reports that
“according to one Democratic estimate, seven Democrats were ready to vote against Rice’s confirmation today, with at least seven more openly considering it.”