Clinton aide quits after raising Obama's drug use

JOHNSTON (US): A top aide to Hillary Clinton has quit her campaign, after sparking a fierce controversy when he publicly raised her top Democratic rival Barack Obama's youthful drug use.
 
Bill Shaheen, a senior figure in Democratic Party politics in New Hampshire, said his comments were not authorized by the Clinton campaign, and he was sorry he had made them.
 
"I made a mistake and in light of what happened, I have made the personal decision that I will step down as the co-chair of the Hillary for President campaign," Shaheen said in a statement on Thursday.
 
"This election is too important and we must all get back to electing the best qualified candidate who has the record of making change happen in this country."
 
Shaheen had told the Washington Post that Republicans would attack Obama for his past drug use, which the Illinois senator acknowledged as a folly of his youth in a memoir.
 
"It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen said.
 
The row over Shaheen overshadowed the final debate before the first nominating contests of the 2008 election campaign in Iowa on January 3.
 
Before flying to Iowa for the high-stakes clash, Clinton apologized to Obama for the remarks when they met in Washington, her aides said, adding that the New York senator stressed she did not authorize the comments.
 
"She said that it was unfortunate and inappropriate," said top Clinton advisor Mark Penn.
 
Top Obama strategist David Axelrod said that Obama accepted the former first lady's apology.