This isn't the book-length press release ... er, biography I expected her to write, but maybe it's just a warm-up:

New York Times White House correspondent Elisabeth Bumiller is close to signing a deal with Random House to write a biography of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Ms. Bumiller plans to go on a yearlong book leave beginning in June....

I've long assumed that Bumiller's fawning over Bush and company in her Times "White House Letter" is meant to be an audition for the Big Gig -- writing Bush's post-White House memoir. I still think that's the case -- but maybe writing a softball book to help get Condi elected president in '08 is one last hoop she has to jump through to score that plum assignment.