US secretary of state claims she does not intend to stay in government if Barack Obama wins second term

Hillary Clinton has said she wants to step off the "high wire of American politics", again quashing speculation that she might stay in government if Barack Obama wins a second term in the White House.

She told state department employees on Thursday she was ready for a rest and is paying no attention to the Republican presidential candidate debates. She said she wanted to find out how tired she was after being first lady, senator, aspiring presidential candidate and finally the US secretary of state.

"I have made it clear that I will certainly stay on until the president nominates someone and that transition can occur" if Obama wins re-election, she told a meeting. "But I think after 20 years, and it will be 20 years, of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am."

But, she appeared to leave the door open to a possible eventual return, adding to laughter from the crowd that "everyone always says that when they leave these jobs".

As secretary of state, Clinton is barred from partisan politics and she acknowledged itwas unusual not to be participating in this election campaign. But, she said she was enjoying being away from the fray and has not watched any of the Republican debates.

"It is a little odd for me to be totally out of an election season," she said. "But, you know, I didn't watch any of those debates."

She said she expected the campaign for November's election to "suck up a lot of the attention" normally devoted to foreign policy issues, which she joked might actually help the state department.

"The good news is maybe we can even get more done if they are not paying attention, so just factor that in."