Rice’s chances were damaged after her Sept. 16 performance on the Sunday shows. | REUTERS Rice withdraws for secretary of state

United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice on Thursday withdrew her name from consideration to be appointed secretary of state by President Barack Obama.

“If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly — to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities,” Rice wrote in a letter to the president. “That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country. … Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time.”


( PHOTOS: What they’re saying about Susan Rice)

Rice will meet with Obama at the White House on Friday afternoon.

Rice’s chances were damaged after her Sept. 16 appearances on Sunday morning TV shows defending the administration’s handling of the attacks on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

“The position of Secretary of State should never be politicized,” Rice wrote to Obama. “As someone who grew up in the era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. administrations, I am saddened that we have reached this point.”

In an interview with NBC News, which first reported the decision, Rice said she worried that a nomination fight would be “very disruptive because there are so many things we need to get done as a country, and the first several months of a second-term president’s agenda is really the opportunity to get the crucial things done. We’re talking about: comprehensive immigration reform, balanced deficit reduction, job creation — that’s what matters.”

She said she didn’t want her nomination to risk an agenda that was “delayed or distracted or deflected, or maybe even some of these priorities impossible to achieve.”

Hillary Clinton is expected to depart from the State Department in Obama’s second term. Rice was seen as a leading contender for the post, along with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

Kerry released a statement praising Rice, calling her “an extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant.”

“I’ve defended her publicly and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again because I know her character and I know her commitment,” Kerry said. “As someone who has weathered my share of political attacks and understands on a personal level just how difficult politics can be, I’ve felt for her throughout these last difficult weeks, but I also know that she will continue to serve with great passion and distinction.”

But pressed by reporters afterward, Kerry answered no questions about whether he has spoken with the president about being the next secretary of state.

“I have no comment on the process,” Kerry said repeatedly as he quickly exited his office.

( PHOTOS: John Kerry’s career)

Asked before the Rice news broke about the possibility that Kerry could be secretary of state, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was mum.

“I know nothing,” he said Thursday afternoon. Later, Reid released a statement saying Rice was “eminently qualified” to serve as secretary of state and “could have been confirmed by the Senate.”

He slammed the “politically motivated attacks on her character” as “shameful” and a “disgrace.”

Moments after news broke of Rice’s withdrawal, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told POLITICO that Kerry “would be a popular choice with the Senate.”

Rice came under fire from several Republican senators, led by John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. During a brief hallway encounter at Rockefeller Center in New York on Thursday, Rice declined to respond to questions from POLITICO about McCain’s role her in withdrawal.

“I respect Ambassador Rice’s decision. President Obama has many talented people to choose from to serve as our next Secretary of State,” Graham said in a statement, adding, “When it comes to Benghazi I am determined to find out what happened — before, during, and after the attack. Unfortunately, the White House and other agencies are stonewalling when it comes to providing the relevant information. I find this unacceptable.”

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers on Thursday said McCain “thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well. He will continue to seek all the facts about what happened before, during and after the attack on our consulate in Benghazi that killed four brave Americans.”

Republican Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch called Rice’s withdrawal “a wise decision. That whole mess was exactly what I’d call it — a mess. I don’t wish her any harm because I like her personally but she should never have gone on television and made those comments without looking at all the top secret information for which she would have had access if she asked for it.”

Hatch said Rice would have had a difficult time making it through the Senate. “I don’t think it was going to be an easy fight by any stretch of the imagination,” he told POLITICO. “But she’s a very nice woman who I think has much to commend. But under these circumstances would have had a rough time getting confirmed.”

Hatch said he also expected Kerry would get confirmed. “John is respected and especially now that she’s pulled, there’s no question.”

An aide to Bill Clinton during his time in the White House, Rice has been an Obama confidant since she defected from the Clinton orbit to join his primary campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2007.

Obama released a statement saying he is “grateful” for Rice’s service as U.N. ambassador and that he has “regret” for the attacks on her while praising her record at length.

“I have every confidence that Susan has limitless capability to serve our country now and in the years to come, and know that I will continue to rely on her as an adviser and friend,” Obama said. “While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first. The American people can be proud to have a public servant of her caliber and character representing our country.”

During a post-election press conference Nov. 14, Obama lashed out when asked about comments McCain made earlier that day that he would “do whatever’s necessary to block the nomination that’s within our power as far as Susan Rice is concerned.”

Obama struck back.

“If Sen. McCain and Sen. Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me,” Obama said then. “And I’m happy to have that discussion with them. But for them to go after the U.N. ambassador, who had nothing to do with Benghazi, and was simply making a presentation based on intelligence that she had received, and to besmirch her reputation is outrageous.”

Obama used the episode to relish a fight with McCain, his rival in the 2008 presidential race.

“When they go after the U.N. ambassador, apparently because they think she’s an easy target, then they’ve got a problem with me,” Obama said.

Kenneth P. Vogel, Darren Samuelsohn and Manu Raju contributed to this report.