WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton apologized to Barack Obama for remarks a campaign organizer made about her rival's use of drugs.

In addition, the senator from New York also accepted the resignation of Bill Shaheen, a friend and her New Hampshire campaign co-chairman, who raised the matter with The Washington Post (NYSE:WPO), the newspaper said.

Shaheen, husband of former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, said in his resignation statement that his remarks to the Post Wednesday were "in no way authorized" by Clinton or her campaign.

"I made a mistake," Shaheen said, adding it was a "personal decision" to step down from his position.

Obama advisers, however, charged that Shaheen deliberately raised the drug issue in part to counter Obama's rise in the polls in early voting states.

In his autobiography, the senator from Illinois acknowledged using marijuana and cocaine when he was younger.

Clinton officials said she sought out Obama at Washington's Reagan National Airport before the candidates flew to Iowa Thursday for the final debate before the state's caucuses Jan. 3. Her aides said Clinton wanted to tell Obama that she hadn't approved Shaheen's tactics, the Post said.