Apart from George Bush's imprimatur, Condi Rice, as estimable as she undeniably is, has not elective experience, is wrong on the cultural issues, and has the charisma of a moonrock. Only George Bush knows for sure, but then only George Bush knew for sure about Harriet Meirs.
And Bob Dole was better (1996)? Or Gerald Ford (1976)? Or Richard Nixon (1968, 1972)? Or Wendell Wilkie (1940)? Or Alf Landon (1936)?