Is she IN . . or out . . .

In a recent Interview with the Washington Times editorial board, Condoleza Rice stated:

Rice, who took office Jan. 26 after four years as President Bush's national security adviser, said that she "can't imagine" running to succeed her boss and that she is "not trying to be elected." But she said she knows people are talking about the possibility and she did not rule it out when pressed repeatedly.

So she all but said no, but refused to rule it out specifically.

Asked whether she would "do a Sherman," or give an unconditional denial, Rice replied, "Oh, that's not fair."

So while the pundits were probably scrambling to decipher the Rice code in an attempt to figure out what she really meant, the Sunday morning talking heads thought they would just ask her point blank:

She closed the door in appearances on Sunday talk shows, telling NBC's "Meet the Press," "I will not run for president of the United States."

"I won't run," she told ABC's "This Week." "I won't. How's that? Is that categorical enough?"

So Jeb Bush has denied he'll run, and Rice has now taken her name off the board. Who's next in the "I don't want the job" brigade. Funny how usually everyone is maneuvering for position at this point in the presidential Race, but the GOP front runners are treating it like a hot potato. It just seems like a bit out of character for these power hungry individuals.

Flash