The White House has said it will continue with efforts to confirm the US envoy to the UN, John Bolton. White House spokesman Tony Snow described Bolton’s record as “terrific”. However, the chances of Bolton being backed by the newly held Democratic Senate are slim to none. Correspondents say Bolton is likely to be replaced in January when Democratic senators take their seats.

Bush had originally slipped in Bolton’s appointment in August 2005 during a Congressional recess after his nomination stalled in the Senate. That procedure avoided the need for him to be confirmed until the end of this year. Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated by his Democrat rival in Rhode Island, said; “The American people have spoken out against the president’s agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those fronts is on foreign policy.” With Democrats and certain Republicans against his nomination, it’s safe to say that Bolton will not win the two-thirds vote he needs from the Senate.

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