Battle Cry for Republicans: Clinton 9 points ahead of Rice in 2008 race

A recent poll matching up Sen. Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State Condolezza Rice gives the New York Democrat a 9-point lead over her hypothetical opponent in a 2008 presidential race. A Rice candidacy remains all but a dream, but the prospect of another Clinton era ought to motivate Republicans to rally behind their number-one asset: Condoleezza Rice.

During three days in October 1,053 adults 18 years of age or older living in the continental United States were interviewed by telephone. The calls were part of a survey conducted jointly by Marist College and television station WNBC, both in New York. They called 827 registered voters including 393 Democrats or Democratic leaning independents and 312 Republicans or Republican leaning independents. The leading candidate was Sen. Clinton, who garnered 41 percent of those already willing to commit their votes.

Rice, who has not yet been persuaded to lead the Republican ticket, pulled in support from 21 percent of those polled. Among possible GOP rivals, she tied with former New York Mayor Rudolph Guliani; John McCain was close on their heels with 19 percent of those interviewed.

Members of the Grand Old Party must realize that they need to use their resources strategically. Rather than enter the primary season with an array of candidates who can’t defeat Clinton, they should build momentum behind a single leader. Now is the time for a united front. A splintered party will most certainly result in losing the White House. Daily, our Web site Rice For America.com receives email from folks who cringe at the thought of Hillary Clinton as our president.

No disrespect to Guliani intended, but he is not ready to lead the nation. He is the only other Republican who potentially could win. Rice, on the other hand, is currently the most respected member of the president’s cabinet.

While most members of President George W. Bush’s administration are defending their reputations, explaining embarrassing accusations, or struggling to deflate a cloud of scrutiny hovering over them, only one remains above the fray. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continues to perform the job for which she was appointed with grace and style. Consequently she continues to earn the admiration of people at home and around the world.

According to the Pew Charitable Trust, which also conducted a survey in October, 70 percent of Americans surveyed during the month gave Condoleezza Rice a favorable job performance rating. This comes at a time when the public has soured toward government in general.

The two polls should serve as more than food for thought. They ought to serve as a battle cry to the GOP. County chairmen (and women) and grass roots leaders across the country should be working with petition gathers right now. Condoleezza Rice still needs to be convinced that she should run. The alternative to nominating Rice very well could be inaugurating Sen. Clinton.

Rice Tours Hurricane Damage in Alabama

“The great thing about America is that we care about each other”
– Condoleezza Rice

Secretary of State Condolezza Rice was one of about 300 worshippers who attended a two-hour church service in Whistler, Alabama, on September 4 and toured relief centers with Alabama Governor Bob Riley.

Hurricane Katrina struck the southeastern United States August 29, causing widespread damage and prompting the largest domestic relief effort in U.S. history. Rice, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, told reporters after her tour at hurricane relief centers in Alabama that she was there to “let people know we are thinking about them and praying for them.”

An Associated Press photographer captures for posterity a snapshot of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she loads a truck with supplies for hurricane survivors in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, September 4, 2005. In remarks to reporters while traveling to Alabama – one of the states hit by the hurricane – to view and participate in recovery efforts, Rice said there has been “a really tremendous response from the rest of the world.”

Speaking to reporters after touring the relief center in Bayou La Batre, Alabam, and working with community volunteers, Rice called the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina “a terrible disaster for our country,” but said she also saw “that communities are coming together.” “The great thing about America is that we care about each other,” Rice said.

“The volunteer effort here and the pulling together here to help Alabamans in need is apparently going to be extended even in this time of difficulty for the state of Alabama to Louisiana and Mississippi because the state of Alabama is going to take in people from neighboring states, and that really says a lot,” Rice said. “A state that is hurting like Alabama to want to take in people from other places that are hurting too, it just shows what we can do when we pull together as Americans.”

Rice also said she brought a “commitment from the United States of America, from the highest levels of the United States of America” that the relief and rebuilding “is going to get done.” More than 70 countries – large and small – as well as the United Nations have offered assistance to the United States for recovery efforts in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Rice said.

Republicans In Iowa Want Condi

In Iowa … the 2008 Iowa Caucus Poll shows Republicans Know and Want Condoleezza Rice

Condoleeza Rice has the highest favorable name identification at 80%, followed by Rudy Giuliani at 66%, Newt Gingrich at 50% and John McCain at 44%. Governor George Pataki of New York rounds out the top five at 27%.

A survey of potential Iowa Republican caucus attendees was conducted from August 8-10, 2005. The presidential ballot test was offered twice. The first time it was asked with a list of candidates who are frequently mentioned as potential entrants in the GOP field. The second ballot test had four additional names that are less frequently mentioned. Only one of the additional candidates dramatically impacted the results of the ballot test.

In the first ballot test, two candidates stood out from the rest: Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. Both candidates have high name identification and were chosen by 21.7% of voters as their first choice for a Republican nominee. But once the name of Condoleeza Rice was added to the mix in the second ballot test, she became the immediate leader with 30.3% of the vote. Giuliani fell to 15.3% and McCain fell to 16%. This may be the first time in history that an African-American woman has ever led a preference poll of likely presidential voters in either party.

Source: Victory Enterprises Inc.
Read the poll

South Carolina Petition Drive

Hello Condi Supporters. If you are serious about a Condoleezza Rice nomination in 2008, we need your help. Rice For America, a 527 draft committee, has launched a Carolinas petition drive. Lots of candidates have won Iowa or New Hampshire but if you want the GOP nomination you must win the South Carolina GOP presidential primary. We need your help in South Carolina to make the dream scenario come true.

In order to convince Dr. Rice that a presidential bid is doable, we need to present her with the 10,000 GOP signatures from South Carolinians to place her on the presidential primary ballot in this crucial state.

We need your volunteer time. Please sign up to join the draft committee. Your volunteer effort can be from just forwarding letters to your friends and associates, to helping us build the e-mail list, to writing letters to the editor, staffing information tables at events, speaking at events all the way to full-time volunteer organizing.

To get involved, e-mail me at organize@RiceForAmerica.com or sign up on the website: www.RiceForAmerica.com