So, another speculation wagon has left the station.  This one claiming that Condoleezza Rice is clamoring for the second spot on the John McCain presidential ticket.  Several commentators have hinted around that Rice is the perfect counter to either Clinton or Obama. Although they won’t actually say out loud what they are thinking, they are suggesting that, as a black woman, she would take away votes from either Democratic candidate.

Surely American voters aren’t shallow enough to vote for (or against) someone just because of their gender.  And we’re all past all of that racial stuff where people will vote for (or against) someone just because of their skin color.  Think again.

It was sad to hear statistics after the 1993 election that said

that an astounding number of people (mostly women) voted for Bill

Clinton because he was good looking.  A large number also cited things

such as his charisma, posture, and smile.

But don’t think

that women are alone in this type of voting bias.  Testing shows that

men who view a picture of someone in a business suit with a clean-cut,

clean-shaven look, will judge them as smarter, more politically

savvy, and more trustworthy.  So, although they didn’t vote for Bill

because he was a hunk, many men were undoubtedly swayed by his looks.

So, do I think that Condi wants on the ticket?  I don’t know.  I can

see her wanting to ultimately be the president and using the vice

president position as a stepping stone, but I can also see how she

could shun the presidency, much like Colin Powell did.  The job is a

very tough one.  Despite what critics say of George W., he must be

given credit for doing the job.  Condi is close enough to see what the

presidency is like, so she may be speaking truthfully when she says she

just wants to finish out the term with George and head back to her

teaching job.

On the other hand, she may see that this is the right time for an

African American or a woman to become the president.  And, it might

just be the right time for an African American woman to become vice

president.  One day, John, if he succeeds in winning the presidency,

will leave office.  Several presidents in our history have moved into

that position from the vice presidential office.  Condi might have the
years, (heaven forbid) he could succumb to the stresses of the position

and have to step down due to health reasons, or may depart this life

before the end of his term.

These are all things that the strategists are looking at.  I would like

to see Condi as the vice presidential candidate.  A couple of years

ago, when Hillary was the obvious Democratic candidate, I got excited

whenever I heard on talk radio that Condi was expected to run for

president.  I think she can do either job, and do either well.

Of course, McCain still has to consider the far right base.  Putting

someone like Huckabee on the ticket as the vice presidential candidate

would help secure the conservative right, but it would alienate many

moderate or liberal voters who are looking to McCain because they fear

voting for Hillary.  However, if Obama is the Democratic candidate, we

may very well see a McCain-Rice ticket that would secure women, black,

and moderate voters, which, I believe, could very well tip the

Republicans into the White House for another four years.

We have a few months before the choice is made public, and at this

point I think it all comes down to who the Democratic candidate is.  If

Obama is it, then I expect Condi on the ticket.  If Hillary wins, then

I expect Huckabee or another very conservative pick.

Mark