Senate vote paves way for Hagel as defense chief
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Former Sen. Chuck Hagel was virtually assured to be the next U.S. Defense secretary after the Senate on Tuesday voted to end debate on his pending nomination. A number of Republicans, including John McCain, joined with Democrats to support a cloture vote by a 71-27 margin. That paves the way for a final vote, probably later Tuesday afternoon, to confirm Hagel. Republicans initially held up the vote on Hagel to seek more information on his nomination and other foreign-policy decisions undertaken by the White House.