John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Wednesday he still hopes to win confirmation from the U.S. Senate that would keep him at the UN post.

Sidestepping mostly Democratic blockings, U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Bolton to the job during a congressional recess last August. But the temporary appointment expires in January when this Congress ends, and Bolton will have to get by Senatorial approval if he wants to stay.

"We've been hoping for about a year and a half to just get a straight up or down vote on the Senate floor," Bolton told Fox news. "We have a few more weeks left in a lame-duck session so we're still going to see if that's not possible."

"One of the things that would be important is that we not lose continuity, and that's one of the reasons we hope we can get an up or down vote. And if we can, I think I will be confirmed and we won't lose continuity," Bolton said.

The U.S. envoy, a former undersecretary of state for arms control, faces persistent opposition from Democrats who said Bolton's hawkish views in his last arms control job and harsh criticisms of the United Nations made him unsuitable for the job.

Meanwhile, the White House has stayed adamantly behind Bolton's nomination. White House spokesman Tony Snow said Monday that the president would stand by his nomination of John Bolton as UN ambassador, despite unwavering opposition from Democrats.

Source: Xinhua