U.N. Nominee Bolton Faces Showdown Vote

Most of the eight Democrats on the committee have said they plan to vote against Bolton on Tuesday. Two of the 10 Republicans — Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska — have said they expect to vote for Bolton despite reservations.

Not even a negative vote or a tie vote in committee would not necessarily thwart Bolton's nomination. The panel could send his name to the floor without a recommendation, or even with a negative recommendation. A tie vote or negative vote would be politically damaging, however.
At least one Democratic senator, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., said he will ask for a closed session so the committee can hear from intelligence officials about information Bolton requested relating to National Security Agency communications.

According to a spokesman for Dodd, Bolton asked for and received the identities of 10 U.S. officials involved in such secret NSA intercepts during the past four years.

"It's not clear what purpose Mr. Bolton was using this information for," said Dodd spokesman Marvin Fast. "The senator is concerned because it's his understanding that this information is rarely requested, and he wants to ensure that it was for official purposes only."
(AP)