Washington -- Veteran U.S. broadcast journalist John King has been tapped to replace outgoing CNN anchor Lou Dobbs starting early next year, the news network said Thursday.
Dobbs, who recently has been criticized for his coverage of immigration issues, announced Wednesday he is leaving CNN.
The network said King, who is the anchor of its "State of the Union" Sunday program, will serve as host of a new, as-yet-unnamed weekday political program to air in Dobbs's former time slot of 7 p.m. ET in early 2010.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity, at this busy and consequential time, to have a platform to discuss and explore the big issues of our time," King said in a statement released Thursday by CNN.
