White House Intensifies Campaign to Rescue Bolton Nomination

Administration officials said on Tuesday that the White House is taking a more aggressive role in trying to salvage John R. Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations. Vice President Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, the White House's deputy chief of staff, have been meeting with influential Republican senators and using phone calls to press their point of view. The campaign to rescue Bolton's nomination has been ongoing since last week, when his prospects were thrown into doubt by a wavering Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio.

Key Takeaways:

• Vice President Dick Cheney and Karl Rove are playing a central role in trying to salvage John R. Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations.
• Administration officials said that they will intensify their campaign as a scheduled May 12 vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nomination draws closer.
• The White House's efforts include phone calls to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, as well as Senators John Kyl of Arizona and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
• The nomination's fate is precarious, with one Republican vote against Bolton on the committee potentially keeping it from reaching the Senate floor.
• Administration officials have compared Bolton's outspokenness to that of former ambassadors Danial Patrick Moynihan and Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, with Bolton being praised for his role in reforming the United Nations.
• Democrats have criticized Bolton for what they say are attempts to politicize intelligence and his harsh treatment of subordinates.

Statistics:

• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on Bolton's nomination on May 12.
• 4 out of 10 Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have expressed concerns about Bolton's nomination.
• Bolton has been criticized by Democrats for his treatment of subordinates and for attempts to politicize intelligence.
• The White House has praised Bolton's role in reforming the United Nations under his tenure as under secretary of state for arms control.

Sources:

• "The White House is intensifying its campaign to rescue the nomination of John R. Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations," administration officials said on Tuesday.
• Vice President Dick Cheney met with influential Republican senators on Tuesday afternoon.
• Cheney called other Republican senators to press the president's point of view.
• Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, met on Capitol Hill with the Senate Republican whip, Mitch McConnell, and other Republican allies of the White House.