Rice says no

Washington, D.C.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this week tried to dispel rumors that she would run for president in 2008. “I don’t have any desire to run for president,” Rice said. “I don’t intend to. I won’t do it. How’s that? Is that categorical enough?” Rice had tried to deflect speculation before, but four Web sites have sprouted up touting her as a possible GOP successor for President Bush. Rice, a former provost of Stanford University, said she would rather return to academia. But when asked if she was “definitively” ruling out a White House bid, Rice balked, saying, “Oh, that’s not fair.”