US Sen. Gregg Withdraws As Obama Commerce Pick

Gregg said there was nothing in background checks that played a role in his decision.

Republican Senator Judd Gregg said on Thursday he is withdrawing as President Barack Obama's nominee to be Commerce secretary, another blow to the president's attempt to broaden support across party lines.

Gregg said he withdrew because of differences with the Democratic president over issues like the economic stimulus package and the country's census, which the Commerce Department would be responsible for implementing.

"Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns," the New Hampshire senator said in a statement.

"We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy," he said. "Obviously the president requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives."

Gregg said there was nothing in background checks that played a role in his decision.

The withdrawal will for a second time send Obama to the well to look for a new commerce secretary. His first pick, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, withdrew because he was facing a legal inquiry.

In addition to these two withdrawals, Obama has seen two high-profile nominations implode because of tax problems, former Senator Tom Daschle to head the Department of Health and Human Services and Nancy Killefer to be the country's chief performance officer.