Former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson’s bid to be the next secretary of state received a major boost Sunday when a pair of Republican senators who had expressed consternation about him announced they will vote to confirm him, a move that effectively clears the way for him to win confirmation.
Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), two traditional GOP hawks who have voiced skepticism about Tillerson’s ties to Russia, released a joint statement saying that after much thought, they have decided to back him.
“After careful consideration, and much discussion with Mr. Tillerson, we have decided to support his nomination to be Secretary of State,” they said. “Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests.”
McCain first announced his decision on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He said that it “wasn’t an easy call.”
Republicans hold a 52-48 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, leaving Tillerson little margin for losing Republican support if every member of the Democratic Caucus aligns against him. McCain and Graham were seen as two of a small handful of Republicans who might defect.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/22/mccain-says-he-will-support-tillerson-for-secretary-of-state/
