– She's given some pretty emphatic denials, but Condoleezza Rice has still emerged as Mitt Romney's No. 1 choice for vice president, according to the Drudge Report. Despite her repeated statements that elected office is not for her, Rice wowed the conservative establishment with her speech at a Romney retreat in Utah a few weeks ago and intrigued with comments in a recent email to supporters. "2012 is perhaps a turning point for the United States," she wrote, saying that she is often asked to speak about foreign policy, but "we, as a country, are not going to be able to address any of those international challenges unless we first get our domestic house in order." With the close relationship between some members of the Romney campaign and Matt Drudge, analysts are wondering if the Rice story is a scoop or a trial balloon, notes the Wall Street Journal. Political observers say Rice would be a mixed VP candidate—she's respected, black, and female, but could remind voters of the Bush presidency and favors some abortion rights. That's an issue that Sarah Palin was quick to pick up on when she was interviewed by Greta van Susteren yesterday, reports Mediaite. "I would certainly prefer a presidential and vice presidential candidate who had that respect for all innocent, precious, purposeful human life, and showed that respect by being a pro-life candidate," said Palin, who was otherwise very supportive of Rice.