Daschle withdraws his nomination

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Former Sen. Tom Daschle is withdrawing from his nomination to be Health and Human Services Secretary, the White House announced Tuesday amid the former Democratic leader's tax problems.

President Obama said in a statement that Mr. Daschle, who had to pay nearly $130,000 in back taxes and interest for failing to report a gift of a private car and driver as income, asked Tuesday morning to be withdrawn.

"I accept his decision with sadness and regret," the president said in a statement.

The move comes less than a day after Mr. Daschle said he would move forward and senators came to his defense, saying the tax issue was an honest mistake.

"Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I. But that mistake, and this decision, cannot diminish the many contributions Tom has made to this country, from his years in the military to his decades of public service," Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Daschle, who lost his bid for reelection as senator from South Dakota in 2004, said he refused to be a "distraction" for the task of reforming health care.

"If 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction," Mr. Daschle said in a statement. "Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction."