Firm Makes No Excuses for Firing Rice

NEW YORK — Donna Rice, whose relationship with former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart sparked the scandal that drove Hart out of the Democratic presidential race seven months ago, was dumped as the No Excuses Sportswear model Tuesday, hours after Hart re-entered the presidential race.

“Donna Rice will no longer serve as model and spokesperson for No Excuses Sportswear,” said the company that markets the line of women’s clothing. “The television commercials Ms. Rice made for No Excuses will no longer be shown and have been withdrawn from broadcast.”

A spokesman for the company, New Retail Concepts Inc., insisted that the move had nothing to do with Hart’s decision to jump back into the fray and pursue the nomination. “We had planned to make the announcement Thursday but decided to take advantage of the other story breaking today,” said the spokesman, who asked that his name not be used.

The new model will be “someone of equal or greater celebrity,” the spokesman said.