Senate confirms Kerry as secretary of state

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly confirmed U.S. President Barack Obama’s choice of Sen. John Kerry, 69, to be secretary of state, with Republicans and Democrats praising him as the ideal successor to Hillary Rodham Clinton. The vote Tuesday was 94-3. One senator — Kerry — voted present and accepted congratulations from colleagues on the Senate floor. The roll call came just hours after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved the man who has led the panel for the past four years. Kerry could be sworn in as early as Wednesday.