washington u.s. senate thursday confirm president barack obama nominee ambassador mexico long delay behind-the-scenes maneuver include renew sanction impose venezuelans state department authorization bill obama nominate career diplomat roberta jacobson mexico city post june face resistance lawmakers reason include role help negotiate obama relations communist-ruled cuba concern administration fail make human right priority senate foreign relations committee back nomination november republican senator marco rubio florida place hold keep confirmation vote go ahead rubio cuban-american former 2016 republican presidential candidate oppose obama move toward normalize relations havana often push white house take strong stand human right issue latin america month republican leaders obama administration officials come rubio ask would make lift hold jacobson ask extension bill introduce last year impose sanction venezuelans human right violations connection suppression anti-government protest senate approve three-year extension sanction measure thursday even chamber also approve state department authorization bill block republican senator ted cruz texas still race republican presidential nomination senate aide say senator bob corker chairman senate foreign relations committee say would block rubio venezuela bill rubio lobby cruz drop hold state department measure cruz drop opposition state department bill also pass senate unanimous voice vote thursday night spokesmen rubio cruz corker decline comment secretary state john kerry say please senate finally confirm jackson one qualify roberta represent unite state mexico say statement long delay u.s. senate approve envoy mexico