WASHINGTON - A Senate panel took the rare step Thursday of refusing to endorse John Bolton, the controversial administration candidate for US ambassador to the United Nations, but nevertheless sent the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.
The move was a blow to the White House, which had hoped that Bolton would receive the seal of approval of the committee's 10 Republicans, whose backing would have improved his odds for success in the full Senate.
Instead, Bolton barely squeaked out of the polarized Senate committee Thursday. His nomination apparently was saved by a deal in which several Republicans agreed to forward his nomination for the UN post, but refrained giving him their explicit backing.
Despite the lack of a congressional endorsement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was "pleased" by the outcome, and expressed hope for Bolton's quick Senate confirmation.
"I am pleased that the Foreign Relations Committee has voted to send John Bolton's nomination as Ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate for consideration," Rice said in a statement.
A date has not been set for the vote in the Senate where Republicans hold a 55 to 45 majority. But Democrats promised they would continue to fight tooth and nail against the nomination as it moves to the chamber.
"If this comes to the floor, we're going to have a fight," Senator Barbara Boxer said during the committee meeting.
Bolton is currently undersecretary for arms control and international security at the US State Department, and would bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the UN post, Rice said.
"I recommended John for this critical position because he has the skill and dedication necessary to advance the President's reform agenda at the United Nations," she said.
Democrats have been united in opposition to Bolton, while four of the committee's 10 Republicans expressed serious reservations.
Chief among Bolton's Republican critics was Senator George Voinovich, whose reservations about Bolton scuttled a vote on the nomination by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month.
At Thursday's hearing Voinovich expressed grave reservations about allegations that he had mistreated staff during his long career in Washington, shaped intelligence to conform to his views, and other concerns.
He also issued a scathing denunciation of the nominee, saying the president could have chosen any one of a number of equally qualified, and less controversial, candidates.
Nevertheless, the Ohio senator said he would approve sending Bolton's nomination to a vote before the full Senate, in deference to the White House.
The debate in the divided committee was the latest showdown between Senate Democrats and Republicans, who have wrangled bitterly for weeks over President George W. Bush's nominee for the influential UN post.
Bolton's Republican supporters acknowledge that he has at times been "blunt," but they say his direct manner is just what is needed to help whip the scandal-plagued United Nations into shape.
"I think the American people want someone at the United Nations who pushes strongly for reform," said Senator George Allen. "We are not electing 'Mr. Congeniality.' We do not need 'Mr. Milquetoast' in the United Nations," he said.
The panel has spent weeks examining allegations that Bolton misused or hyped flawed intelligence on issues including China, Iran, North Korea and Syria.
Even his ex-boss, former secretary of state Colin Powell, reportedly told lawmakers that Bolton had been a problematic official. Powell's former chief of staff was quoted by the US press as saying that Bolton would make an "abysmal ambassador."
If confirmed by the Senate, Bolton would have to fight the US case on vital foreign policy issues, ranging from nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea to the future of the world body itself.

05/12/2005 22:16 GMT