Rice withdraws as secretary of state candidate; Obama decries ‘unfair and misleading’ attacks
WASHINGTON – Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from consideration to be the next secretary of state after the embattled U.N. ambassador ran into a standoff with Republicans over an attack on Americans in Libya.
President Barack Obama, in a statement, said he accepted Rice’s decision to remove her name from consideration. Obama decried what he called “unfair and misleading attacks” on Rice in recent weeks.
A person familiar with the deliberations said support has been trending away from Rice for the past few days.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is perceived internally to be the front-runner for the secretary of state position.
Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is also seen as the front-runner for Obama’s next defence secretary.
The person familiar with the deliberations requested anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations.
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