U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said Thursday she withdrew her name from consideration for secretary of state because she did not want to see a confirmation process that was "very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting, and very disrupting," in an interview with Brian Williams.
"Today I made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the American people, that I not continue to be considered by the president for the nomination for secretary of state," Rice said.
"I didn't want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting, and very disrupting," she continued.
Following the interview, Rice declined to answer a question from Politico's Ken Vogel about the role of Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) in her withdrawal.