Susan Rice pulls out from Secretary of State consideration

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations., Susan Rice. PHOTO/File

Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from consideration to be the next secretary of state after the embattled U.N. ambassador ran into a standoff with Republicans over an attack on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 Ms. Rice’s decision to remove her name from consideration. Obama decried what he called “unfair and misleading attacks” on Rice in recent weeks.

An official 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 official familiar with the deliberations requested anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press