Republican presidential candidate John McCain says he's in the early stages of selecting a running mate and reportedly has about 20 people on his list. I think Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be a great VP candidate and give the Republicans a very strong ticket.
Many Republicans are saying that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and some current Republican governors, such as Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, should be on McCain's list. Here's an Associated Press story on possible McCain running mates. Huckabee would help shore up McCain's conservative base. But that's not a big consideration in the general election. Who are conservatives going to vote for? Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? Besides, conservatives would be just fine with Condoleezza Rice.
McCain said he wants to name his running mate before the Republican convention is held at the beginning of September.
Nicholas Von Hoffman says a McCain/Rice pairing would be a dream ticket for the Republicans in this article in The Nation. Rice has rejected the idea of running for vice president, but that's what you'd expect her to say.
Who do you think McCain should choose as his running mate?
I think Condie would be a great running mate and VP. I would like Huck too. Condie is such a classy lady and carries herself very well.
In my best attempt to not make this sound racist, I think Rice would be the perfect choice.
Barack is sure to get the Dem nomination and many people will vote for him based on the color of his skin. In the same way they would vote for Clinton because she is female.
With Rice you give those people something else to think about, politics. Now they're not voting based on sex or ethnicity, but based on political views and qualification. Back to the way it should be.
Maybe Rice would fill a couple of key demographic slots for the Republicans, as Jagdu suggests. And she certainly is a very smart and well-spoken lady, as Jackie points out. But is she a serious presidential contender? (Which a Vice President should be.)
Her domestic policy experience is essentially zilch. She is associated with one of the worst foreign policy blunders in U.S. history (the Iraq War and occupation), and her oversight of the State Department has been seriously lax, with little accountability and billions of dollars unaccounted for.
My guess is that she will wisely stick to her pledge not to run.
Condi is a smart person who can follow directions very well.
Ms. Rice may have many strengths, none of them political. But her support for the war in Iraq is one very big minus. Running as V.P. will just help deep six the Republican ticket.
If the U.S. of A. is ready for a Woman President or Vice, the World is not. Simply, in tough times and good times we deal with countries who have less respect for women. It is tough enough as it is. We can wish it diffrent everyday, but that is how it is.
Condi has my vote!!! She is polished, professional, has great knowledge of the Washington politics, appears to have been accepted by other countries as she has represented us abroad.
Look at the women who have been leaders around the world...this is not a negative and could pull the womens vote.
If Obama gets the nomination, Condi will make McCain a stronger candidate......she has just written a book (something people do when they are in the running?!)
Only one problem....she said she is ready for a private life, away from politics.....is she? Come on Condi do it for the team!!
I feel secretary of state Condi Rice is an excellent choice as VP candidate on the Republican ticket. She is ultimately qualified and will satisfy the enormous number of voters that want black and female to fill elevated positions in government. Lee Webster, Fresno
I think Condi would make the best running mate for McCain and it would be a winning ticket. I have already suggested this in a communication via the McCain campaign website.
If I may interject some history to this discussion, when she was made chief of security for the nation in 2000, I was aprehensive to say the least, her background in russian studies, with a minor in Chevron inc., didn't add up to a gig as the coordinator of our national security. If you've forgotten, she claimed the dog ate her homework. 9/11 will not pump up her resume, rather, her "deralition of duty" was so profound, she may go down in history as one of the most irresponsible public servants in history...the G.O.P. would be wise to distance themselves from the stench of this administration.
"dereliction she may go down in history as one of the most irresponsible public servants in history...the G.O.P. would be wise to distance themselves from the stench of this administration.
Mitt Romney would be the best person to fit the bill.He's been successful at running things on different levels and could step in and do a good job if something happens to Sen. McCain. The Bee,who would not vote for any Republican ticket, is up to its old tricks again by putting this out there.Romney would help give Sen.McCain at least a little credibility with conservative voters. The Bee would never admit that.
Condoleeza Rice as potential VP for John McCain?
Ms Rice is obviously very intelligent, talented, and ambitious to a degree. However:
* She has a remarkably undistinguished record as National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State. What of note has she accomplished in these positions?
* Ms Rice has proven herself to be a loyal "Yes Man", or "Yes Person" to her patron, Mr Bush. The bombastic Mr McCain needs a VP (and Secretary of State, etc) with a strong will, proven experience and original ideas.
* Being appointed to office by Mr Bush is not a valued recommendation -- Donald Rumsfeld, "You've done a heck of a job Brownie", Paul Wolfowitz, Alberto Gonzales, Tommy Franks, and many others.
* There has been no world wide press that has extolled Ms Rice as a anything more that a mediocre ambassador for the USA.
To complement McCain, I would suggest:
* Steve Forbes
* Sen Joe Biden... yes, a Democrat. Think about it!
David R Carlson
Fresno CA