Politics

Condoleezza Rice For Senate?

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Condi for Senate 2016?

Top Republicans are already floating former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s name as one possible GOP candidate to run for the Senate in California next year, The Daily Caller has learned. But there’s skepticism whether Rice, now a professor at Stanford, would actually be interested.

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer announced earlier Thursday she won’t run for re-election, setting up an open race for one of the Democratic-leaning state’s Senate seats.

Rice, who worked in the George W. Bush administration, has gotten buzz before as a political candidate, but has never actually run for office. Her name surfaced in 2012, for example, as as potential vice presidential pick for GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Boxer, 74, announced her retirement in a three-minute long YouTube video released Thursday. “I am never going to retire, the work is too important,” Boxer said. “But I will not be running for the Senate in 2016.”

Boxer referenced the race to replace her, saying in the video she wants to make sure her Senate seat “stays progressive, that is so critical.”

“She is the dream candidate for Republicans — someone who is one of the most accomplished women in the history of our country,” said Kurt Bardella, a Republican political consultant involved in California politics.

“She would have access to significant financial resources, high name ID and would be a phenomenal candidate,” Bardella of Endeavor Strategic Communications said. “However, even in the best of circumstances with the best candidate possible, it is still an uphill climb for Republicans and it’s highly doubtful that Rice would be willing and eager to join this CA adventure.”

In 2010, Boxer beat back a well-funded Republican challenge from former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. The liberal Democrat won by 10 percentage points.

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