Condoleezza Rice has said no way to the idea of being Mitt Romney's
running mate every which way she can, but a Drudge Report story that
she's the "front-runner" for the job has sparked lots of chatter.
Some
conservatives aren't thrilled with the idea of the former secretary of
State as the vice presidential candidate, and they said so clearly after
the Drudge Report came out with its headline last night.
"I
don't know who is hitting the crack rock tonight in the rumor mill, but
bull shiitake mushrooms," wrote Erick Erickson on his RedState blog, as he denounced the speculation about her as "silly."
Two points Erickson raised: Rice supports abortion rights (and has called herself "mildly pro-choice").
She also spent eight years working for George W. Bush, who is the least
popular ex-president alive, according to a CNN/ORC poll.
Marjorie
Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said today that
Rice is "an unqualified candidate" because of her abortion views. She
noted that Romney has promised to name a "pro-life running mate."
Katrina Trinko, writing in National Review Online,
said she was surprised at the idea of Rice as Romney's running mate.
She noted Rice's years in the Bush Cabinet would "seem likely to
generate controversy" and said there isn't a group of voters "she would
automatically attract."
"This is bad politics," said Mark Levin, a conservative radio host.
Sarah
Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, said on Fox News last
night that Rice would be a "wonderful" vice president. Although the
former Alaska governor said she would prefer "a presidential and vice
presidential candidate who had that respect for all innocent precious
purposeful human life," Palin said the job of legislating on abortion
falls to Congress.
On the flip side, Rice wowed Romney supporters
with her speech at a recent gathering of fundraisers at a retreat in
Park City, Utah. She was also the top choice of Republicans in a CNN poll, taken in April, on who they would like to see as Romney's running mate.
Peggy Noonan, a former Reagan speech writer, wrote in TheWall Street Journal that she recently told a gathering of businesspeople that Rice would be a "brilliant choice."
"Spontaneous applause burst forth," Noonan said.
USA Today