John Kerry Is Losing His Campaign to Be Secretary of State

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC, which concludes today, nominated U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 06: U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC, which concludes today, nominated U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images2012 Getty Images

Those bored with speculation about the 2016 presidential race can turn their attention to the increasingly complex game of guessing who will join President Obama’s cabinet. Senior administration officials tell the New York Times that John Kerry and Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, are the two frontrunners, but things aren’t looking good for the Massachusetts senator. If Obama picks Rice he’ll have to battle with congressional Republicans, who have targeted Rice in their criticism of the response to the Benghazi attack, yet the Washington Post reports that the nomination will still “almost certainly go” to Rice. Officials say Obama is considering asking Kerry to be his defense secretary, but he may have to rethink his whole cabinet strategy if scandals keep breaking at the current rate.

John Kerry Probaby Won’t Be Secretary of State