Arizona Sen. John McCain is blocking confirmation of President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the nation’s second-ranked diplomat.
McCain calls the president’s deputy national security advisor, Tony Blinken, totally unqualified to serve as Secretary of State John Kerry’s understudy.
McCain is also criticizing Blinken for comments he made more than two years ago touting Iraq's security, prosperity and democracy.
McCain has been among the president's toughest foreign policy critics. He will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee next month when Republicans become the senate’s majority party.
Senators can put a hold on a nominee, blocking final action.
Blinken has been the president’s deputy national security advisor since January 2013.