Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire abruptly withdrew his nomination as commerce secretary Thursday, citing “irresolvable conflicts” with President Obama’s handling of the economic stimulus and 2010 census.
“We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy,” Gregg said in a statement released by his Senate office.
Maybe Gregg’s statement will pierce the White House Bubble of Compromise. Then again, maybe not.
*** Update (by Sarabeth), 3:14 p.m. ***
Senator Jay Rockefeller IV’s office has put out the following statement:
I wish Senator Gregg had thought through the implications of his nomination more thoroughly before accepting this post.
I’ll see your Gregg, senator, and raise you an Obama: I wish President Obama had thought through the implications of this nomination more thoroughly before offering this post to a center-right Republican like Judd Gregg.