U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice leaves following a General Assembly vote granting Palestinians non-member observer status on November 29, 2012 in New York City. The resolution was approved by the 193-member body by a vote of 138-9, with 41 abstentions. The United States, Israel, Canada and a handful of others voted against Thursday's historic UN resolution. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from consideration to be the next secretary of state after the embattled U.N. ambassador ran into a standoff with Republicans over an attack on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 defense secretary.
The person familiar with the deliberations requested anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
