Daschle withdraws from race

TOM DASCHLE withdrew his nomination yesterday to be President Barack Obama's health and human services secretary, faced with problems over back-taxes and potential conflicts of interest.

“Now we must move forward,” Obama said in a written statement accepting Daschle's request to be taken out of consideration. A day earlier, Obama had said he “absolutely” stood by Daschle.

Daschle, the former senate Democratic leader, said he would have not been able to operate “with the full faith of congress and the American people”.