Voinovich says Bolton a “changed man”

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, landed in papers across the globe last year for his forceful opposition to John Bolton, who President Bush had nominated as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

At breakfast this morning, he told reporters that Bolton is a “changed man” with “a whole different attitude” who seems to have a good rapport with his colleagues at the U.N.

Voinovich shocked the White House and colleagues for voting with Democrats against Bolton in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – then gave an emotional speech against Bolton on the Senate floor that he described as “one of the finest moments” in his Senate career.

When Bush couldn’t get the Senate to approve Bolton’s nomination, he inserted him in the job during a congressional recess, when a president is allowed to make an emergency appointment without Senate approval.

Bolton, who must win Senate approval in January 2007 if he is to stay in the job, appears to be on his way to keeping that gig. While Voinovich acknowledged that “a couple months in a job doesn't tell you the whole story,” but said that he’s might consider supporting Bolton the second time around.

Who else was at the breakfast with Voinovich this morning?

Click here to read Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Sabrina Eaton's take on Voinovich's Bolton comments.

Click here to read Associated Press reporter David Hammer's story on the comments.