The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve Condoleezza Rice's nomination to become secretary of state after two days of contentious debate that focussed on the Iraq war. The Senate voted 85-13 to approve the nomination, with most opposition Democrats joining Republicans in supporting President George W. Bush's choice to replace Secretary of State Colin Powell. Rice, 50, who currently serves as Bush's national security adviser, still must be sworn in to the post, which could take place later Wednesday. She will become the first African-American woman to hold the job. All but one of the votes against Rice were cast by Democrats who criticized her for misleading the public on the reasons for going to war in Iraq and for not being candid about problems the United States is facing there. Former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry was among those who opposed Rice as was Senator Edward Kennedy of the same state. Jim Jeffords, an independent senator from Vermont who typically sides with the Democrats, also voted "no". --More 2228 Local Time 1928 GMT
