WASHINGTON -- Susan Rice, the embattled United Nations ambassador, abruptly withdrew herself from consideration Thursday to be the next secretary of state after a bitter, weeks-long standoff with Republican senators who declared they would vigorously fight her nomination.
The announcement makes Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, the likely choice to be the nation's next top diplomat when Hillary Rodham Clinton departs. Support for Rice had been waning.
In another major part of the cabinet shake-up for President Barack Obama's second term, former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska now is seen as the front-runner to be defense secretary, with official word coming as soon as next week.
Obama had been weighing whether nominating Rice would be worth the fight. He accepted her decision with a shot at Republicans.
"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character," he said.
If Obama taps Kerry for secretary of state, the president will create a potential problem for Democrats by opening a Senate seat -- one that recently defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown is eyeing. Brown had been elected as Massachusetts' other senator in January 2010 after Democrat Ted Kennedy died, stunning the political world as he took the seat Kennedy had held for decades. Brown lost that seat in November.
Rice had become the face of the bungled White House account of what happened in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, when four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, were killed in what is now known to have been a terrorist attack.
Obama had defiantly declared he would chose her for secretary of state regardless of the political criticism, if he wanted to, but such a choice could have depleted him of capital and gotten his second term off to a turbulent start with Capitol Hill.
Rice withdrew her name in a letter to Obama.
She said she was convinced the confirmation process would be "lengthy, disruptive and costly -- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities."
Rice added: "That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country."
Rice may end up close to Obama's side in another way, as his national security adviser should Tom Donilon move on to another position. The security adviser position would not require Senate confirmation.
Obama made it clear that she would remain in his inner circle, saying he was grateful she would stay as "our ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team."
The announcement makes Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, the likely choice to be the nation's next top diplomat when Hillary Rodham Clinton departs. Support for Rice had been waning.
In another major part of the cabinet shake-up for President Barack Obama's second term, former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska now is seen as the front-runner to be defense secretary, with official word coming as soon as next week.
Obama had been weighing whether nominating Rice would be worth the fight. He accepted her decision with a shot at Republicans.
"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character," he said.
If Obama taps Kerry for secretary of state, the president will create a potential problem for Democrats by opening a Senate seat -- one that recently defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown is eyeing. Brown had been elected as Massachusetts' other senator in January 2010 after Democrat Ted Kennedy died, stunning the political world as he took the seat Kennedy had held for decades. Brown lost that seat in November.
Rice had become the face of the bungled White House account of what happened in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, when four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, were killed in what is now known to have been a terrorist attack.
Obama had defiantly declared he would chose her for secretary of state regardless of the political criticism, if he wanted to, but such a choice could have depleted him of capital and gotten his second term off to a turbulent start with Capitol Hill.
Rice withdrew her name in a letter to Obama.
She said she was convinced the confirmation process would be "lengthy, disruptive and costly -- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities."
Rice added: "That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country."
Rice may end up close to Obama's side in another way, as his national security adviser should Tom Donilon move on to another position. The security adviser position would not require Senate confirmation.
Obama made it clear that she would remain in his inner circle, saying he was grateful she would stay as "our ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team."