Bill Shaheen has resigned as a co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s national campaign, UnionLeader.com has learned.

Shaheen last night apologized for telling a reporter that if Barack Obama becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, Republicans will use his admitted past drug use against him. Clinton this morning personally apologized to Obama in Shaheen’s remarks. The two candidates reportedly met at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

In a statement first obtained by UnionLeader.com, Shaheen said, “I would like to reiterate that I deeply regret my comments yesterday and say again that they were in no way authorized by Senator Clinton or the Clinton campaign. Senator Clinton has been running a positive campaign focused on the issues that matter to America’s families. She is the best qualified to be the next President of the United States because she can lead starting on day one. 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. 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. That candidate is Hillary Clinton.”

Shaheen had told the Washington Post, “The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight, and one of the things they’re certainly going to jump on is his drug use.”

Shaheen said Obama has invited further questions by being so open on the topic.“It’ll be, ‘When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?’” Shaheen said. “There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It’s hard to overcome.”

Obama campaign officials said the comments were part of a negative pattern employed by the Clinton campaign, which, they said, has become desperate as the Democratic races in New Hampshire and first-caucus state Iowa have tightened.

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