Senate votes to confirm Kerry as secretary of state

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) in Washington on Jan. 24. Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Senator John Kerry received enough Senate votes on Tuesday to be confirmed as President Barack Obama's new secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.

The five-term senator and 2004 unsuccessful presidential candidate had broad support from fellow Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. As voting continued, he had received well over 60 votes in favor of his confirmation, and just two against it.

Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Will Dunham