Condi 2008 Watch

The Daily News reported today in a story on Condi’s impressive travel schedule that her approval rating is at 61%. I bet that thrills Hillary to no end.

She also is considered the rock star of the administration.

Bush administration sources said Rice’s treks are part of a plan to try to salvage American prestige amid sharp global dissatisfaction with the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and to broaden diplomatic efforts in an administration critics say has been short on open-minded foreign policy.

“She’s great, and she has the President’s attention, so her word is accepted as the administration’s policy,” a Mideastern diplomat said.

Rice’s globetrotting comes just as she continues to emerge as an international rock star in an administration that extols low-key public personas, but a White House source said that’s okay with Bush, who will forever be grateful to Rice for schooling him on the ins and outs of foreign policy.

So far, Rice is a big hit with the American people, who gave her a 61% approval rating in a CNN/USA Today Gallup poll last week.