Conventional wisdom comes in varying degrees, from the squishy, jello-like stuff to the rigid, iron clad, "don't-you-dare-even-think-about-it" variety. The idea of John McCain selecting Condi Rice as his VP falls into the latter category, but that might be exactly why he should choose her. Before you laugh, dismiss me as a moron, and go clicking elsewhere, read this.

Condoleezza Rice is, without question, one of the most accomplished women in the world. She is also one of the most recognizable. She has a remarkable life story that is equal to that of either nominee. And, yes, she is closely tied to a two-term President who is widely unpopular, though she has managed to maintain favorable ratings far above all other major players in the administration precisely because she is such a compelling, independent-minded individual.

The other piece of conventional wisdom out there is that McCain needs some sort of dynamic, out of the box pick for Vice President. If you believe that's true, then go look at the list of folks McCain is considering and you can see the problem.

Current speculation is centering on Tim Pawlenty, an affable young-ish white guy with one and a half terms as governor of a state that may or may not be winnable for McCain in the fall who is totally unknown outside of Minnesota. If that's "outside the box" then it's a pretty small box to begin with.

The other "OTB" candidates on the list evoke similar yawns and/or concerns. But Rice is so far outside the box, looking back it registers only as a speck.

I'm sure the Obama folks would need drool bibs and bed pans to even contemplate the thought of McCain selecting Rice. But be careful what you wish for. This campaign is anything but conventional, and Condi could be a much more formidable pick than any of the others on McCain's list. All that being said, there's probably only a one in a hundred chance McCain chucks the box out the window and makes Condi his VP.

-Tom Bevan