"Condi 2008" Debuts Tonight

Americans for Dr. Rice is the epitome of a grassroots organization. Led by Crystal Dueker, who literally criss-crosses the country in her Mini Cooper gathering support for a Condoleezza Rice presidential run in 2008, Americans for Dr. Rice is a small but growing contingent of self-proclaimed "Condistas" who are beginning to make their presence felt.

Tonight the 527 political organization will air "Condi 2008," its first commercial promoting a Condi candidacy in '08, in New Hampshire during the season premiere of the new ABC series "Commander-In-Chief" starring Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland.

When I spoke with Ms. Dueker a month ago, I could tell immediately that this was a woman dedicated to her cause. Full of excitement, Crystal had just scored her organization recognition by National Review Online and had just returned from Iowa, where she learned that Condi drew support of 30% of registered Republicans polled.

Among 400 Republicans who said they are likely to attend the 2008 caucuses, Rice received the backing of 30.3 percent. U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona was second in the survey with 16 percent, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani received support from 15.3 percent. Roughly 20 percent were undecided.

I wrote just the other day that I've been warming lately to the prospect of a Rice candidacy, mainly because Condi isn't a politician. Considering the profligate spending of our Republican Congress, I believe Rice could bring the voice of ordinary Americans to the floor and evade the ire of conservative and libertarian Republicans, who by that point could very well be fed up with a Republican party that appears content to alienate its core in an effort to seem "compassionate." On the other hand, this could also be her curse if Republican heavy-hitters deem her a threat and rise up against her to protect their own backsides, many of which have grown fat as they've bankrolled pet projects on behalf of the American taxpayer and an indulgent Congress.

Needless to say, there will be many variables to a Condi presidential run, especially if Hillary Clinton gets the nod to oppose her, which, I might add, is no certainty. But make no mistake: If 527s like Americans for Dr. Rice are successful in not only getting Rice on the ticket but also helping her to win the Republican nomination, we'll see a presidential fight like none we've ever seen. Indeed, today's "liberals" cannot afford to see a black Republican woman become president, for they know all too well that this would effectively extinguish their ability to exploit black Americans as the perennial victims of an oppressive white society.

And that right there would be worth the price of admission.