Washington insider Susan Rice could face tough nomination battle_美文

Washington insider Susan Rice could face tough nomination battle

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, has been touted as a top contender to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. If nominated, Rice may have a difficult path to confirmation after being caught in a battle between the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans over the September attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Ambassador Rice has been a Washington insider practically since birth. She grew up in affluent Washington circles, the daughter of a governor of the Federal Reserve System. She distinguished herself academically at Stanford University in California and in her post-graduate work at Oxford University in England.

Her political star was rising, first during Bill Clinton’s administration as one of his special assistants, then as an assistant secretary of state for African Affairs.

She was an early supporter and advisor to then-candidate Barack Obama and became his United Nations ambassador in January 2009.

American University professor and author David Bosco says Rice has a strong resumé as well as a close relationship with President Obama.

"She understands how the U.S. foreign policy machine works, and I think that’s extremely valuable," Bosco said. "Her relationship with the president is also very valuable. That’s a real asset for a secretary of state, because when she interacts with foreign leaders, foreign diplomats, they know it is likely there is very little daylight between her and the president.”