Alabama-native Condi Rice leads potential field in California US Senate race

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February 18, 2015

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

SAN FRANSISCO, Ca. — An independent, non-partisan poll released Wednesday by the Field Research Corporation found that 49 percent of potential California voters would be inclined to support Alabama-native Condoleezza Rice in an election to replace longtime Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer.

Many expect Boxer, who announced her retirement last month, to be replaced by another liberal Democrat, but former Bush administration Secretary of State Rice—who has yet to give any indication she is considering a run—would immediately be the favorite over the emerging group of Dems seeking the seat.

Rice led among both male and female voters, and did well among latinos, but predictably, her most overwhelming support came from fellow Republicans, 74 percent of whom said they would support her right out of the gate.

Slightly behind Rice in the poll was current California Attorney General Kamala Harris who garnered support from 74 percent of likely Democratic voters and 46 percent of voters overall.

Rice has tended to stay above the fray of politics since leaving government, but made waves last November by venting on Fox News about her view that Democrats tend to play racial politics, rather than focus on policy positions.

“The idea that you would play such a card and try fear mongering among minorities just because you disagree with Republicans, that they are somehow all racists, I find it appalling. I find it insulting,” she said.

“Poor black kids trapped in failing neighborhoods schools, that’s the biggest race problem of today,” she continued. “That’s the biggest civil rights issue of today. Anybody who isn’t in favor of school choice, anybody who isn’t in favor of educational reform, anybody who defends the status quo in the educational system — that’s racist to me.”

Though Rice is reportedly enjoying her numerous current roles as a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, professor of political science at Stanford University, and the only female member of the College Football Playoff Selection committee, the poll shows she would be the strongest GOP candidate in a state that has been leaning more and more left in recent years.