The 2008 TIME 100 Finalists

Read about the leaders, artists, enterpreneurs and thinkers who, in your opinion, deserve a spot on this year's TIME 100 —Scott Brown and Michelle Kung

CONDOLEEZZA RICE

time 100 walkup  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice

Chip Somodevilla / Getty

AGE: 53
OCCUPATION: U.S. Secretary of State
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 2
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 4

PRO: As the picking apart of the Iraq debacle begins, Rice, who tends to top power lists and popularity contests, has come out better than most: she's looking more and more like the level-headed realist who tried to restrain Don Rumsfeld, Cheney, and their erring Iraq proconsul, Paul Bremer. Her name's been floated as a potential running mate for John McCain.

CON: Her sputtering, last-ditch attempts to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process look like legacy-hungry floundering. And no one's talking about a presidential run anymore.

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