Condi Rice for VP talk persists despite denials

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says repeatedly she does not "do politics" but her name keeps popping up as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate. Rice's spokesman tried yet again on Monday to quash reports that Rice wants the No. 2 spot on the Republican ticket but blogs and political Web sites are still buzzing. On Sunday, Dan Senor, a Republican strategist and former spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority that governed Iraq after the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion, said Rice was courting conservatives for the job. Rice reiterated her lack of interest in an interview with The Washington Times last month. Despite her claims of disinterest, Rice has been dipping more frequently into domestic politics and showing a lighter side, such as sharing her exercising tips with Fitness magazine and doing an interview with Parade magazine. But Rice's role as one of the principal architects of the Iraq war and its chaotic aftermath weigh against her as McCain's choice and even Rice has conceded it might be better for McCain not to turn to a Bush administration official. [MORE]