The Politico article is much more thorough and also has this intriguing quote from Rice:

"Rice, who has often been mentioned as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), demurred when asked if she might serve as second in command to Obama.

“I don’t need another job in government with anybody,” she said. “Look, I’m a Republican, all right? Sen. McCain is a fine patriot, and ... he would be a great president. But there’s something to be said for fresh blood. And I know that there are a lot of very good people who could be his vice president.”
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=9A10CD99-3048-5C12-000BFA4426DD823C

Condi appears to be saying that she thinks that it's Obama who would provide the "fresh blood". Given that her primary brief includes the ME and specifically, the frustratingly intractable situation re I/P issues, I would speculate that Rice may be calling for "fresh blood" within the context of dealing with the region.

I'm sure Condi is aware that McCain's ideas about the ME would result in the shedding of lots and lots of "fresh blood" if they are made manifest.

IMO, President Obama should take full advantage of Condi's experiences in dealing with the players and their games in the I/P messes. She knows the situation from the inside and whatever the partisan/idealogical/practical reasons to diss Rice, she is sincerely committed to getting something done in that regard.

Condi Rice could brief Obama on who the obstructionists are and what games they have played in order to keep the situation as is and worse. Condi has enemies (Elliot Abrams, et al) within the administration who have worked to undermine her. There has been Israeli grumbling about Rice; she has acted in ways they resent. She also knows and is friends with the woman who could become Israel's next Prime Minister, Tzipi Livni.

Obama wouldn't be adopting/endorsing the half-assed counterproductive Bush policies by speaking with Rice about the situation on the ground. Her perspectives would be invaluable; her notions about "democracy" ignored.

In addition, If Obama were to meet with Condi, they should talk alone. No staffers and/or advisors allowed.

cher.

Hah! We're waaaaaaaaaaay are late to the game, Condi and Obama have been chatting for 3 years according this article:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1828328,00.html

The following comment from a reporter who was also present during the "fresh blood" remarks in Aspen indicates Rice really means it. In conjunction with the info revealed above, his account further suggests she thinks Obama may be The One to provide it :

"As an Aspen journalist, I covered U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice being interviewed on August 2 by Walter Isaacson. When Issacson steered Rice toward commenting on the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Rice said she had no interest in being John McCain's running mate nor any interest in any other high level post. "I don't need another job in government," she said. "There's something to be said for fresh blood." Moments later Rice emphasized again, "I'm quite serious about new blood." When the interview ended, several in the audience were heard to discuss among themselves whether Rice's remarks might construed as a tacit endorsement of Barack Obama.
Sterling Greenwood
Aspen Free Press"
http://blogs.dw-world.de/acrossthepond/tim/1.6880.html

Fresh blood. New blood.

Condi gets it.

I think the most important thing to get out of her remarks is that the U.S. will be fine, security-wise, with an Obama presidency-that's why I posted this link. In the "real world" he's still getting beat to hell over this and I hope her remarks will get more attention. Sorry to run it into the ground but I think its damn significant that she has undermined one of McCain's main talking points...