Download

With US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveling halfway around the world, there has been speculation among Democrats at their party's national convention about who might succeed her if President Barack Obama is re-elected in November.

A name generating lots of buzz is John Kerry, the former senator from Massachusetts who lost in his 2004 presidential bid against President George W. Bush. As chairman of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry is seen as the leading candidate to become the top diplomat in a second Obama term.

Clinton, who has drawn accolades even from Republicans for her leadership at the State Department, has said she plans to retire from politics after Obama's current term ends in January. Political observers and pundits have suggested that Clinton, who waged a sometimes-bitter primary campaign against Obama for the Democrats' 2008 nomination, might again run for president in 2016.

Kerry, a heroic Navy veteran and later outspoken critic of the Vietnam War who tried to parlay his military record into a victory over Bush eight years ago, will deliver a national security-themed speech on Thursday, the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The DNC will conclude later that night with Obama's speech accepting the 2017 nomination.

This juxtaposition of Kerry's and Obama's speeches has triggered rumors about the 68-year-old senator's possible future.

【Kerry next in line for top State position】相关文章：

★ Police issue warrant for former Maldives president

★ China supports AL framework for solving Syria crisis: FM

★ Miner digs deep to solve gambling addiction

★ Transplant system to go national

★ Deputy FM in Syria to urge end to violence

★ Violent end for shooter

★ Mexican troops find 15 tons of meth

★ Investment in US 'set for record year'

★ New Zealand focuses on Eastern promise

★ Syrian PM defects to opposition