UPDATE
President Obama today announced his nomination of Senator John Kerry for the Secretary of State position that will open soon. The President noted that Kerry is the perfect choice for the seat and mentioned how the two have become good friends over the last several years. Although Secretary Clinton could not attend the press conference this afternoon, President Obama explained that she wished she could have been there to support this decision.
According to a senior administration official, it looks like we will see President Obama nominate Senator John Kerry for Secretary of State sometime today. The Senator from Massachusetts and former Presidential nominee has been rumored as a favorite for the position for the last several months. Many believe his experience, gravitas and interpersonal skills will help him in this new position. After U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, withdrew her name from the possible list of candidates, it was clear that Senator Kerry would be the front runner.
Although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has yet to resign the post, she has made it clear that she intends to leave the post shortly after the New Year. Kerry has traveled all over the world on behalf of the Obama administration and this seems like the most logical next step. Kerry was in Pakistan earlier this year trying to mend stressed relations after a series of incidents, including one that killed Osama bin Laden.
Following a nomination from President Obama, the nomination will move to the Senate for confirmation. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, "He would be a very, very impressive choice."
With Senator Kerry moving into this new position (if confirmed), that leaves one Massachusetts Senate seat open. There is a lot of talk about Scott Brown running again in a special election for this seat. This nomination could have a huge impact on whether the Republicans could take the seat back in Massachusetts.
Nothing has been announced by the President yet, but we will have all the updates for you as the nomination becomes official.