Cheney's Health Problems Could Upend GOP 2008 Race

: "Cheney's Health Problems Could Upend GOP 2008 Race Kevin Mooney Staff Writer (CNSNews.com) - Vice-President Dick Cheney's health problems have triggered speculation that he may be forced to step down, a move that could potentially throw the Republican 2008 presidential nomination race into disarray. Although only 66, Cheney has suffered four heart attacks in the past and has undergone angioplasty and bypass surgery. This week, he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg. Blood clots can travel to the lungs and result in a pulmonary embolism -- a sudden blockage of blood flow in an artery in the lung -- one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. In the event of the vice presidency becoming vacant through resignation or death, the Constitution requires the president to nominate a vice president who must be confirmed by majority vote of both houses of Congress. Bush would find it difficult to get a Democratic-controlled Congress to approve a conservative nominee, analysts say. At the same time, neither of the leading GOP 2008 presidential aspirants -- former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Sen. John McCain of Arizona -- would be eager to be seen as President Bush's heir apparent, should he tap either of them for the job. If, on the other hand, Bush were to replace Cheney with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- a move analysts consider not unlikely in the event of a vacancy -- Rice would almost certainly accept the position only if she was also prepared to run for president in 2008."