Susan Rice Withdraws Secretary Of State Bid

Does the White House emerge stronger or weaker after yesterday's abrupt announcement that Susan Rice is no longer a candidate for post of Secretary of State.

Rice, the current U.S. ambassador to the UN, faced strong opposition from Republican senators who criticized her for how she characterized the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on the U.S. in Benghazi, Libya. Rice has also been criticized by Republicans along with human rights activists for what they say is her coddling of African strongmen.

President Obama had strongly defended Rice over the last months. Today the talk in D.C. is moving on to who is now most likely to succeed Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State. But Keli Goff, political correspondent for The Root is pausing, to ask what Rice's withdrawal means, and points out that the man who led the opposition to Rice, calling her "unqualified," was Arizona senator John McCain — the man who picked Sarah Palin for his Vice Presidential running mate in 2008.