WASHINGTON (December 13, 2012)--Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration to be the next secretary of state Thursday 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.

Mr. 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.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 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 Mr. Obama's next defense secretary.