Former Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer is expressing
skepticism over the notion that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is
interested in becoming GOP nominee John McCain's vice-presidential
running mate.
Republican strategist and former Coalition Provisional Authority
spokesman Dan Senor recently told ABC News that Secretary Rice has
been "actively campaigning" in recent weeks to be considered for the
number-two spot on the GOP ticket this fall. But Gary Bauer, a McCain
sup****ter and prominent evangelical Christian leader, says he is not
convinced Rice is seeking the job or that she would be an ideal choice
for McCain.
"Condoleezza Rice, for the entire administration, has denied that she
has any desire to get into the political arena. And quite frankly,
even as she is [a] very astute ... official, she's never campaigned
for any office at any level. And campaigning takes a particular set of
skills that not everybody in government naturally has," Bauer
contends.
McCain needs a running mate, according to Bauer, who has a good and
clear record on values issues, which Rice does not. On the issue of
abortion, for example, Rice has described herself as "mildly pro-
choice."
Bauer believes a John McCain-Fred Thompson GOP ticket would be a
dynamic duo. He says McCain and Thompson's meeting over the weekend
has only fueled speculation about whether the former Tennessee senator
is on McCain's short list of possible vice-presidential running mates.
Bauer, who sup****ted Thompson in his short-lived presidential bid,
says he is not sure the Law & Order star wants to get back into the
political arena again.
"[He] certainly has a lot of experience here in Wa****ngton, DC, and is
also generally well-thought-of by conservatives. [He] comes from a
border state, and those states are likely to be very im****tant during
what could be the third very close presidential election in a row. So,
I hope that Senator McCain is considering former Senator Fred Thompson
among many other possibilities around the country," Bauer adds.
If McCain were to win the White House, Bauer believes Thompson would
likely be tapped to a cabinet post such as attorney general.
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