The US Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted Tuesday to back Obama nominee Jack Lew as Treasury secretary despite qualms about his reputation as a doctrinaire Democrat and his ties to Wall Street. Senators voted 19-5 in favor of Lew, with several Republicans joining with the majority Democrats, paving the way for a full Senate vote as early as Wednesday. President Barack Obama nominated Lew, formerly his White House chief of staff, to replace Timothy Geithner, who stepped down last month after four years marked by the country's deepest economic crisis since the 1930s.

(Corrects paragraph 9 to reflect that Lew got $1.4 million loan; subsequent reported amounts were paydowns.) * Committee votes 19-5 to send nomination to full Senate * Top Republican has 'serious reservations' about partisanship By Anna Yukhananov

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit nine countries in Europe and the Middle East starting Sunday as he undertakes his first foreign trip as top diplomat, the State Department said Tuesday. Kerry will visit Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar through March 6, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

* Jack Lew expected to eventually win Senate backing * Lew: Citigroup bonus was in line with others in industry * Tax reform a focus; Lew shows appetite to tackle it By Anna Yukhananov and Rachelle Younglai WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Jack Lew, President Barack Obama's pick to be U.S. treasury secretary, on Wednesday fended off criticism about his financial experience and tried to find common ground on tax reform with lawmakers considering his nomination.