Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attends the 21st annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed Mitt Romney for president last night at a fundraiser in California in front of about 300 donors. Rice says Romney understands the nation’s special place in the world. “If America is going to rebuild its strength at home, rebuild its sense of who we are, it needs a leader that also understands how really exceptional the United States of America is, and is not afraid to lead on the basis of that exceptionalism,” Rice said. “The only thing that people dislike more than unilateral American leadership is no American leadership at all.” Newsmax reports:

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed Mitt Romney as the Republican presidential nominee at a fundraiser in California last night, saying he understands the nation’s special place in the world.

Rice, 57, spoke at an event the former Massachusetts governor attended in Hillsborough, California, near where she teaches at Stanford University. Romney clinched the nomination two days ago, winning the party primary in Texas.

“If America is going to rebuild its strength at home, rebuild its sense of who we are, it needs a leader that also understands how really exceptional the United States of America is, and is not afraid to lead on the basis of that exceptionalism,” Rice told about 300 donors. “The only thing that people dislike more than unilateral American leadership is no American leadership at all.”

Rice is often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick for Romney because the former Bush administration official would boost his foreign policy credentials, help secure women’s votes and potentially draw black voters who have been loyal to President Barack Obama.

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