Campaign To Draft Rice for 2008 No Longer Limited to the Web
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
It’s not too soon to start buying “Condoleezza for President” bumper stickers.
An organization aimed at enlisting President Bush’s national security adviser and future secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, in the next presidential race yesterday made it official.
Richard Mason of Miami registered “Americans for Doctor Rice” yesterday with the Federal Election Commission under section 527 of the tax code.
The registration of Mr. Mason’s group coincides with the 16-2 vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approving the nomination of Ms. Rice as secretary of state. The Senate is expected to take up the matter next week in a floor vote.
Mr. Mason has a history of promoting Ms. Rice’s political career.
He has a Web site – www.condi4prez.com – which is already selling bumper stickers and other campaign material to boost the nomination of the woman described as Mr. Bush’s closest confidante.
Visitors to the Web site are asked to “help change history” by purchasing stickers that read, “Condoleezza Rice: We have a dream,” and “Draft Condi: President 2008.”
In public remarks, Ms. Rice has been coy about her political plans. But it has long been rumored in Washington that she is eyeing a Senate seat in California. Both seats open up in 2010. The Senate delegation from the Golden State split this week on Ms. Rice’s nomination before the Senate committee, with Senator Feinstein, a Democrat, introducing Ms. Rice, and Senator Boxer, also a Democrat, refusing to recommend her before the committee.
The site drafting Ms. Rice even has a section asking readers to choose a possible running mate for her. Last evening, the front-runner in the Web poll had a former New York Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, leading the pack. Other top vote getters included Senate Majority Leader Frist and conservative columnist Ann Coulter.
So-called 527 organizations operate primarily for the purpose of influencing the selection of candidates to elected or appointed office, but they are not allowed to coordinate with individual campaigns or political parties. Their contributions and expenditures are tax-free, and there are also no limits on single contributions to the committees.
