Panel backs Obama’s pick for No. 2 State post

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday advanced President Obama’s nominee to be the nation’s No. 2 diplomat despite Republican objections.

{mosads}The panel voted by voice to send deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken’s nomination to the full Senate.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has opposed Blinken’s nomination since it was announced, called Blinken “unqualified” and labeled him “one of the architects of the withdrawal from Iraq.”

McCain said he would be “discussing this at length” when the nomination reaches the Senate floor.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he would “use every procedural method available to me to slow down” Blinken’s nomination.

McCain, Rubio and fellow GOP senators Jim Risch (Idaho), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.) asked for their “no” votes to be recorded.

Panel Democrats generally lauded the pick.