Politics

Pompeo Clears Hurdle With Manchin’s Support

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Robert Donachie Capitol Hill and Health Care Reporter
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CIA Director Mike Pompeo looks to be in a good position to get confirmed as the next secretary of state after a Democrat announced his support for the nomination Monday morning.

“After meeting with Mike Pompeo, discussing his foreign policy perspectives, & considering his distinguished time as CIA Director & his exemplary career in public service, I will vote to confirm Mike Pompeo to be our next Secretary of State,” Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia tweeted Monday.

Senate Democrats and one of their hawkish Republican colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) are looking to shoot Pompeo down Monday evening.

The SFRC is currently composed of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Every Democrat on the panel has committed to voting against Pompeo’s nomination, which wouldn’t necessarily be a complete rebuke of Trump’s pick if all Republican members voted in favor. But that likely won’t be the case.

Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul is also going to vote against Pompeo, putting the expected final SFRC tally at 11-10 against Pompeo’s nomination.

Since the SFRC began considering secretary of state nominations well over 100 years ago, it has never given a nominee an unfavorable vote. Pompeo would be the first nominee to ever get a thumbs down out of committee.

The SFRC might postpone the vote Monday given the level of debate over this particular nomination.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to put Pompeo’s nomination up for a vote before the entire Senate body as early as this week, regardless of whether or not the SFRC gives Pompeo a thumbs up or down.

McConnell can use the so-called “nuclear option,” which would allow Pompeo’s nomination to get through with a simple majority vote on the Senate floor. All is being equal, Manchin’s vote, along with the support of Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, would push Pompeo through the upper chamber.

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