RICE SEEN AS MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN U.S.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is seen as the most powerful woman in the country, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released this morning.

Of those polled, 45% picked Rice as the most powerful woman in the U.S., compared with Sen. Hillary Clinton at 29% and House Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi at 23%.

Among Democrats, the three were split nearly evenly, with Clinton at 33%, Rice at 32% and Pelosi at 30%. Some 60% of Republicans chose Rice, while 22% picked Clinton and 15% named Peolosi.

A majority of those polled thought both Clinton and Rice were qualified to be president, but more folks than not felt Pelosi - third in line once she becomes Speaker - is not qualified.