Washington  - Thomas Daschle has withdrawn his name from consideration as President Barack Obama's health secretary amid a tax scandal, a White House spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Daschle apologized on Monday for his failure to pay more than 100,000 dollars in taxes and has since paid them back. Daschle, a former Senate majority leader, is a close friend of Obama's who co- chaired his presidential campaign.

Daschle was set to lead Obama's effort to reform the US health care system as secretary of health and human services, as well as the head of a new White House office on health. (dpa)