You are putting the OOOM PHASIS on the wrong SYL ABLE
What you have here is Palin simply not taking the bait to trash a former Secretary of State ~ for no good reason.
This was not, as those who know more about it have said, a Republican rumor ~ it was a Democrat rumor.
IN that light Palin's comment was pretty noncommital.
At the same time all that Romney has at stake if he picks an abortion rights supporter is the loss of the entire RTL community when it comes to campaigning on the ground, and most likely voting for the top of the ticket.
Remember, some Republicans have conspired together to make sure they are always known as 'the stupid party' and Mitt's dad was a charter member of that club ~ so there's no guessing just how stupid he can be.
I"m convinced he's a loser.