The American Spectator

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Saying No To Rice

By Philip Klein on 4.7.08 @ 10:29AM

This report that Condoleezza Rice is pursuing the Republican vice presidential nomination is garnering some attention. While it may make Dick Morris happy, it's really hard to see how Rice would be a good choice for John McCain.

She doesn't deliver any state, and very few black voters are likely to vote for McCain over Barack Obama because of her presence on the ticket. At a time when McCain wants to distance himself from President Bush, he'd be linking himself to somebody who is seen as one of Bush's most trusted advisors on national security. This would provide the Democrats with ample fodder to make their case of continuity from Bush to McCain. Also, while at one point Rice was a popular figure among conservatives, I think she's long since fallen out of favor. Her accommodating foreign policy moves have alienated hawks, while she still remains a blank slate on many other issues conservatives care about. On top of everything, having never run for elective office, she has no experience of actually having to campaign -- meaning she could turn out to be another Wesley Clark on the trail.

I expect that this is the last I'll have to say on the matter, because I just don't see this happening.

topics:
Foreign Policy, John McCain, Barack Obama, Books