THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Summers withdraws from consideration for Fed chief

Summers withdraws from consideration for Fed chief

WASHINGTON - Lawrence Summers had, for weeks, been considered the leading candidate to succeed Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman.

A renowned economist, Summers built close ties to President Barack Obama when he led the president's National Economic Council in 2009 and 2010. In that role, he helped orchestrate the administration's efforts to combat the financial crisis and the Great Recession.   
 
But on Sunday, Summers withdrew from consideration for the Fed.  His withdrawal followed growing resistance from critics, including some members of the Senate committee that would need to back his nomination.   
 
His exit could open the door for his chief rival, Janet Yellen, the Fed's vice chair. If chosen by Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Yellen would become the first woman to lead the Fed.   
 
In the past, Obama has mentioned only one other candidate as possibly being under consideration: Donald Kohn, a former Fed vice chair. But Kohn, 70, has been considered a long shot.   
 
The administration also reached out to former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner early in the process. Geithner said he was not interested in being considered.   
 
Obama is expected to announce a nominee for the Fed chairmanship as early as this month. Bernanke's term ends Jan. 31, 2014.   
 
Some economists said Sunday that they think Summers' exit significantly boosts the likelihood of a Yellen nomination.   
 
``The odds that the president will nominate Janet Yellen are now much higher,'' said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics.   
 
Still, Zandi added, ``There is a chance that there is some dark horse candidate, possibly Tim Geithner.''   
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