Big Drudge headline this morning:

Romney Narrows VP Choices: Condi Emerges as Frontrunner

Late Thursday evening, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign launched a new fundraising drive, 'Meet The VP' -- just as Romney himself has narrowed the field of candidates to a handful, sources reveal.

And a surprise name is now near the top of the list: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice!

The timing of the announcement is now set for 'coming weeks'.

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It was Condi who received two standing ovations at Romney's Utah retreat a few weeks ago, and everyone left with her name on their lips.

Rice made an extended argument for American leadership in the world.

In recent days, she emailed supporters:

"2012 is perhaps a turning point for the United States."

"The upcoming elections loom as one of the most important in my lifetime," she warned. "I'm very often asked to speak about our current foreign policy and the challenges that lie before us. However, 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."

Condi Rice is brilliant, articulate, and one of the most talented women of her generation. But she is not going to be Mitt Romney's choice for VP.

Why? George W. Bush, that's why. And 9/11 -- issues around which the Dems would feel comfortable attacking her a decade later. And Iraq. And her lack of political experience.

And then there's the fact that she's said she doesn't want it.

Romney has spent the last year running away from George Bush. Why would he pick someone so closely associated with the former president?

If Romney is going to go with a pick outside the box -- and I don't believe he will -- there are plenty of other choices he could make. Condi Rice isn't one of them.