WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice says talking points she relied on when publicly discussing the deadly September attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Libya simply had it wrong, and there was "no intention to mislead the American people."

Rice and acting CIA Director Michael Morell met today with three Republican senators who have been harshly critical of Rice's comments five days after attack. She said then that it had grown out of a spontaneous protest.

In a statement, the U.N. ambassador says there was no demonstration in Benghazi and "talking points provided by the intelligence community" had been incorrect. Rice adds: "as is often the case, the intelligence assessment has evolved."

Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte emerged from this morning's meeting declaring themselves to be more troubled than ever. Rice has been considered a likely candidate to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, but the three senators insist that they'll need more information about the Libyan raid before they'll consider Rice.

Still, the White House says there are "no unanswered questions" about Rice's remarks. Spokesman Jay Carney called the focus on the issue an "obsession."