John Kerry as Secretary of State: President Obama Nominates Senator, Democrats and Republicans Vie To Fill His Senate Seat

After weeks of intense speculation, President Barack Obama announced on Friday that Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry would be taking over for Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State.

"Today, though, I'm looking ahead to my second term, and I am very proud to announce my choice for America's next Secretary of State - John Kerry," President Obama said during a press conference. "In a sense, John's entire life has prepared him for this role."

President Obama continued, "In an extraordinarily distinguished Senate career - and as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee - John has played a central role in every major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years." According to the Associated Press, Kerry has established a relationship with several world leaders and has worked in advocating aggressive policies in Libya and Egypt.

"He is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training.  He has earned the respect and trust of his Senate colleagues, Democrats and Republicans," Obama added. "I think it's fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers, or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry.  And this makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead."

If Kerry is approved, and he is expected to gain the Senate's approval easily, he will take over for current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton, the former first lady and Obama's Democratic opponent during the 2008 election primaries, announced early on that she would leave her position in the administration during the next term.

Although she could not attend the White House event, due to a recent concussion sustained during a fall, Clinton issued a statement where she endorsed Kerry's nomination, the AP reported. "John Kerry has been tested-in war, in government, and in diplomacy. Time and again, he had proven his mettle," Clinton said.

Kerry's new appointment would, however, cause some concern for Democrats because it would free up his seat as a Massachusetts senator. According to NBC News, Republicans could easily grab the seat through former Sen. Scott Brown, who lost his own seat in November to Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

Democrats have a less clear choice for a replacement, with several candidates hinting at a run. NBC News reported that the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's widow, Victoria Kennedy, and his son Ted Kennedy Jr. could be in the running. Other contenders include Massachusetts Reps. Edward Markey, Steven Lynch and Michael Capuano.

Rumors that Massachusetts's native actor and director Ben Affleck could also run for Kerry's senator seat have also spread. After testifying before the House Armed Services Committee about the situation in Congo, Affleck told CBS's Bob Scheiffer, "One never knows. I'm not one to get into conjecture."

According to NBC News, a fight for the Democratic ticket could be to Brown's advantage. The former senator also counts on the support of the people and could easily reclaim a seat in the Senate. A poll by WBUR's MassINC Polling Group revealed that Brown has a 58 percent favorability rating among Massachusetts' residents and a 28 percent unfavorable rating.

If Kerry is confirmed into this new position, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will be forced to choose an interim successor before holding a special election between 145 and 160 days after Kerry files for resignation, NBC News reported.