I'd back Condi for the White House, says Laura Bush

[Batgirl]

Philip Sherwell in Washington
(Filed: 15/01/2006)

Laura Bush has revealed for the first time whom she would like to see replacing her husband in the White House: Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State.

"I'd love to see her run. She's terrific," Mrs Bush said during an interview in which she predicted that for the first time a woman would soon be elected president of the US.


Laura Bush and Condoleezza Rice

The First Lady, a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in American politics, is the most influential voice to speak in favour of a presidential bid in 2008 by Ms Rice.

Her comments indicate that the Secretary of State would have backing at the highest level if she were persuaded to change her mind and run on the Republican ticket.

Asked about the prospects of a female president, Mrs Bush told CNN: "I think it will happen, for sure. I think it will happen probably in the next few terms of the presidency in the United States."

She said her choice for that ground-breaking role would be "of course, a Republican woman" and then gave her endorsement to Ms Rice.

Mrs Bush is normally extremely guarded in her pronouncements, so her expression of support carries added weight. It is unlikely that she would have adopted such an overt position if her husband were opposed.

The unmarried Ms Rice is a close confidante and long-standing friend of the Bush family, having previously advised George Bush Snr on foreign policy when he was president.

She played a key role in preparing the current President Bush for his first White House campaign and has worked closely with him ever since.

As the president's brother Jeb, the Florida governor, has ruled himself out of the 2008 race, she could emerge as the de facto "legacy candidate" for the powerful Bush political dynasty.

With Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, the frontrunner for the Democrat nomination, America could witness a showdown between two women for the nation's highest office in 2008.

The First Lady was speaking on the eve of a trip to Liberia with Ms Rice for the inauguration of the first female leader in Africa, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

There is a renewed buzz in Washington that the Secretary of State might be named as vice-president if the incumbent, Dick Cheney, were forced by his health to stand down.

Mr Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, was briefly admitted to hospital last weekend after breathing problems but later insisted that he was fine.

The recommendation of Mrs Bush has delighted the self-styled Condistas of the Americans For Rice grouping. The movement of grassroots Republicans has been running a campaign building support for a possible Rice presidential run at conservative gatherings across the US.

"We're delighted by Mrs Bush's comments," Jessie Jane Duff, the group's national chairman, told the Sunday Telegraph. "You don't get much closer to the President and we think her opinion carries enormous credibility.

" The Condistas are running a "draft campaign" to persuade their heroine to run by demonstrating a ground swell of public support for her candidacy.

Despite her closeness to George W. Bush, Ms Rice would not be universally acclaimed as a candidate within Republican ranks.

A former foreign affairs academic and expert on Russia, she has no record on domestic issues. Most notably, the neo-conservatives who in effect ran foreign policy during Mr Bush's first term are dismayed by her more conciliatory approach and would campaign to prevent her winning the nomination.

For her part, Ms Rice has insisted she has no plans to run for office. Indeed, the sports fan has often said her ideal job after stepping down would be to head the National Football League.

Telegraph