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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Another Obama cabinet pick quits | Another Obama cabinet pick quits |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Republican US Senator Judd Gregg is withdrawing as President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary. | Republican US Senator Judd Gregg is withdrawing as President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary. |
| Mr Gregg decided to withdraw because of policy differences with the Obama administration, he said in a statement. | Mr Gregg decided to withdraw because of policy differences with the Obama administration, he said in a statement. |
| His nomination was announced last week and he was expected to become the second Republican in the Obama cabinet. | His nomination was announced last week and he was expected to become the second Republican in the Obama cabinet. |
| Mr Obama had originally picked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for the commerce post, but he withdrew over an investigation into campaign donations. | Mr Obama had originally picked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for the commerce post, but he withdrew over an investigation into campaign donations. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Washington that this is another blow for President Obama's efforts to shape his cabinet and to reach out to Republicans. | The BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Washington that this is another blow for President Obama's efforts to shape his cabinet and to reach out to Republicans. |
| He has already lost four nominees for senior posts. | He has already lost four nominees for senior posts. |
| Tom Daschle, who was to become the new secretary of health, and Nancy Killefer, Mr Obama's choice to oversee budget and spending reform, both pulled out last week over questions about their payment of taxes. | |
| 'Irresolvable conflicts' | |
| Mr Gregg said in a statement that he had been honoured by his selection and that he admired President Obama's "willingness to reach across the aisle". | Mr Gregg said in a statement that he had been honoured by his selection and that he admired President Obama's "willingness to reach across the aisle". |
| But he said he had found there were "irresolvable conflicts" on issues including Mr Obama's economic stimulus package and the country's census. | |
| "Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns," the statement said. | "Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns," the statement said. |
| "We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy." | "We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy." |
| Shortly after Mr Gregg announced his decision to withdraw, the White House issued a statement saying the Republican senator had offered his name for the commerce secretary post. | |
| "He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the president's agenda," the statement said. | |
| "Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama's key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways." | |
| The $789bn (£547bn) US stimulus package has been widely criticised by Republicans, who say it will lead to wasteful government spending. | The $789bn (£547bn) US stimulus package has been widely criticised by Republicans, who say it will lead to wasteful government spending. |
| But members of both houses of Congress said they had reached a deal on the package this week after the two houses had passed differing versions of the bill. | But members of both houses of Congress said they had reached a deal on the package this week after the two houses had passed differing versions of the bill. |