WASHINGTON – President Obama aggressively defended ambassador Susan Rice on Wednesday, using his first postelection news conference to pointedly rebut Republican charges that the diplomat misled the American public in the aftermath of the attacks in Libya.

Obama called “outrageous” suggestions that she has not been forthcoming about attacks that killed four Americans, including US Ambassador Christopher Stevens. His strong defense of Rice – which was the most heated moment of a 50-minute press conference in the East Room of the White House – has implications for any efforts that Senator John Kerry is making toward becoming secretary of state. Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, has been floated for the same position, and some have suggested she is the front-runner despite deep resistance among Republicans.