Article snippet: A last-minute switch to "yes" by Kentucky Republican Rand Paul gave CIA Director Mike Pompeo enough votes to get a favorable recommendation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Monday, letting him avoid becoming the first secretary of state nominee in the nation's history to be rejected in committee. The committee split along party lines 11-9 -- with Democrat Chris Coons switching his "no" vote to "present." That resolved a last-minute snag that developed when Republican Johnny Isakson was delayed giving the eulogy at his best friend's funeral. But in a rare show of bipartisanship, Coons switched his vote to "present" allowing the vote to proceed. Earlier, Paul explained his vote switch in a statement just before the vote took place. “I just finished speaking to cancer at home in Arizona, Republicans need help from Democrats to push Pompeo’s confirmation through the full Senate. Three Democrats up for re-election this year from states Trump handily won in the 2016 presidential election -- Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana -- have announced they will support Pompeo. As long as more Republicans don't defect, and with at least three Democrats now on board, Pompeo could become the next head of the State Department. It is very unusual for a secretary of state nominee to face such opposition. Past secretaries of state, including Hillary Clinton have breezed through their respective conf... Link to the full article to read more