So you thought Rice was about to be confirmed tomorrow? Think again.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Democrats intend to delay Condoleezza Rice’s confirmation as secretary of state at least until next week rather than grant her Inauguration Day approval, a spokesman said Wednesday.

“There are a number of Democrats not on the committee that want to have a chance to debate her nomination a couple of hours,” said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

He said Democrats would not seek to prevent Rice’s confirmation as the nation’s top diplomat, and he predicted her approval within a matter of days. Rice cleared the Foreign Relations Committee earlier in the day, 16-2, a lopsided vote that belied hours of skeptical questioning by Democrats critical of President Bush’s foreign policy and his conduct of the war in Iraq.

Debate? I don’t think so. Democrats don’t debate – they accuse and berate, not debate. Their only intention in this delay is to give more MSM camera time to Senators that want to pile on to Boxer’s attempt yesterday to drag down President Bush by more-or-less calling Dr. Rice a liar.

Oh, and those two votes against her? Boxer and John “I got my ass kicked in November” Kerry.