Veep stakes: a McCain Rice ticket?
Updated on 11 April 2008
There are plenty of names in the mix for the most deniable job opportunity in history - the one everyone seems to claim they aren't interested in, but naturally won't turn down if offered.
She 'doesn't do' politics. She's denied having any interest in the job. John McCain says he's 'missed any signals' that she's angling after his number two spot.
Her spokesman put it this way: "I don't know how many ways she can say no."
Yet that hasn't stopped all the pundits speculating about Condoleezza Rice appearing on the Republican ticket, pointing to her appearance at a leading conservative forum as evidence that she's keen.
'There are 10 reasons for choosing your running mate. Number one - will they help you win? And the other nine don't matter.'Bill Schneider, CNN
A new poll fresh out of New York claims a McCain Rice pairing would trounce even the Democrats dream ticket of Obama and Clinton.
There are plenty of names in the mix for this, the most deniable job opportunity in history - the one everyone seems to claim they aren't interested in, but naturally won't turn down if it's offered.
Bill Schneider of CNN puts it this way: "There are 10 reasons for choosing your running mate. Number one - will they help you win? And the other nine don't matter."
Hence the whole notion of balancing the ticket.
Geographically, so that true Boston Brahmin John F Kennedy picked a Texan, Lyndon Johnson. Or politically - like the conservative Reagan and the more moderate George Bush.
So for the elderly, maverick McCain, choosing a black woman with years of experience in government could be a wise choice.
Except Dr Rice is so firmly linked to the most unpopular administration for decades - and McCain is hardly going to be gathering much support from African Americans, or women, anyway.
So aside from the other names in the mix - a host of former Governors from Florida's Charlie Crist, to Mark Sanford from South Dakota, to a wild card like Mike Huckabee - there's one man who's bucking the trend.
A man who's actively promoting himself for the job.
Yes, it's McCain's erstwhile rival and campaign spendthrift Mitt Romney.
The man's certainly not shy about coming forward. Last month he declared on Fox News: "I think any Republican leader in this country would be honoured to be asked to serve as the vice-presidential nominee, myself included."
He's been out on the stump for McCain all over the place - from Arizona to Pennsylvania. Even McCain himself could hardly miss these signals.
Asked if he thought Romney was after the VP slot he confessed, amid a certain amount of laughter "I got that impression from him, watching his interview, yes."
And, according to one source, George Bush senior and the great guru himself, Karl Rove, are backing Romney's bid.
Got that economic experience that John McCain lacks? Check.
Vast coffers and great fundraising skills? Check.
Youth, vigour, upright family values? Check, check, check.
There's just one problem, though - apparently the two men can't stand the sight of each other. And McCain's already on record saying he would need a "comfortable, professional relationship" with his running mate.
Strike that one off the list, then.
Which leaves one dark horse in the stable. He too has been enthusiastically campaigning for the Republican nominee. He too comes from the east coast. And he's even run in a Presidential campaign before.
McCain-Lieberman 2008? Now that really would be a political surprise.
