Take A Deep Breath

Before the hyperventilating begins on every thread of speculation that comes around concerning the vice presidential selections, it pays to take a deep breath and remember that this will be a process (at least on the Republican side), and one that has barely begun.

After Republican strategist Dan Senor suggested on yesterday's "This Week" show on ABC that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been actively campaigning for the number two slot on John McCain's ticket, the parlors in Washington are buzzing with the guessing game. But a closer look at what Senor actually said helps put this in more perspective.

Senor noted that McCain faces certain challenges should he select a relatively unknown, inexperienced running mate and continued with this thought, according to a transcript of the show:

The other category is someone who people instantly say, the second they see that announcement, I get it. That person could be president tomorrow. Condi Rice is an option. Tom Ridge is an option, although I think he'd have problems at the convention. Mitt Romney's an option. Condi Rice has actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this. There's this ritual in Washington, the Americans for Tax Reform which is headed by Grover Norquist. He holds a weekly meeting of conservative leaders, about 100, 150 people, sort of inside chattering class types. And they all typically get briefings from political conservative leaders. Ten days ago, they had an interesting visit -Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

But campaigns (especially public ones) for the number two slot are not often aggressive or successful. Most public figures in a position to be considered want nothing less than to look as though they are seeking a job that was once famously equated with a "bucket of warm spit." It's been said that the position is one that no aspiring politician wants, but one none would turn down either. Perhaps that's changed somewhat with the example set by current vice president Dick Cheney, who has arguably wielded more power than any vice president in history, but it seems unlikely that would continue in the next administration.

You can make equally compelling arguments both for and against Rice as a politically smart choice as a McCain running mate – and undoubtedly we'll hear them all. It's part of the odd vetting process, complete with trial balloons sent out by the campaign or individual candidates. But it pays to look at all of it for what it is, speculation about a decision that ultimately will be made by one person for a variety of reasons.