NEWS

WASHINGTON — In the ongoing political war between the White House and some Senate Republicans, Minnesotan Samuel Heins is caught in the crossfire.

Heins, a Minneapolis lawyer and Barack Obama supporter, was nominated by the president in May to serve as U.S. ambassador to Norway — a post that has sat vacant for two years. But a handful of Senate Republicans are vowing to block executive appointments in many departments, including several ambassadorships like Norway.

Earlier this year, Heins appeared to have an easy path to confirmation. He was a welcome choice after Obama’s initial nominee, New York Democratic megadonor George Tsunis, withdrew his bid in December 2014. Earlier that year, Tsunis’ candidacy was tarnished by a painful committee hearing in which he made several misstatements about the country and its politics.