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
