WASHINGTON - Controversial administration hawk John Bolton on Thursday headed toward a Senate vote on his nomination to become US ambassador to the United Nations, with opposition Democrats still hoping to derail his confirmation.
"The United Nations is the world's preeminent diplomatic body," said Senator Ted Kennedy said on the Senate floor, summing up Democrats' objections to Bolton.
"We need a representative there who is a strong and effective leader, who believes in diplomacy and who has a proven record of using diplomacy to advance America's foreign policy and national security objectives."
"Now more than ever, America needs to put our best face forward to the international community. We can and should do better than John Bolton," Kennedy said.
Democrats, who have strongly opposed Bolton, who has been accused of bullying past staff and manipulating intelligence to suit his political agenda.
The Democrats hoped to win a procedural vote late Thursday to extend the Senate debate.
If successful, a final vote on Bolton's confirmation would be postponed until after the Senate returns from a weeklong holiday in June. If they fail, a final confirmation vote would be held late Thursday.
Bolton, the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, has become one of the most controversial presidential nominees of recent years.
Opponents said his abusive manner and treatment of intelligence disqualify him for the sensitive UN job.
Adding to their objections, Democrats said on Thursday that Bolton would be a damaged UN ambassador, after the brusing series of hearings and investigations into his past.
"What credibility will he have?" said Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes. "We need a credible spokesman at the United Nations."
Bolton's mostly-Republican supporters however said he is precisely what the world body needs after scandals in the UN-administered oil-for-food program in Iraq, sexual misconduct by UN peacekeepers, and other problems.
If approved, Bolton would argue Washington's case on vital foreign policy issues ranging from nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, to the future of the world body itself.
But opponents say he lacks the credibility to do so, and accuse him of having hyped flawed intelligence on China, Iran, North Korea and Syria.
In reprising one of the most often-invoked reasons for approving Bolton, Republican Senator John McCain said he should be confirmed primarily because he is President George W. Bush's pick.
"Elections have consequences. One consequence of President Bush's reelection is he has a right to appoint officials of his choice.
"It's not my choice, or any other senator's, but the president's choice," McCain said.
Democrats also repeated demands that the administration produce classified information on the Bolton nomination.
The data dealt with draft congressional testimony written by Bolton about Syria's alleged attempts to get weapons of mass destruction, and his efforts to obtain information intercepted by the National Security Agency.
Democrats said they would vote against end the debate and hoped that enough Republicans would join them to prevent an final vote on the nomination. They hoped to muster 41 votes from among 100 senators to delay the vote until next month.
05/26/2005 17:45 GMT