I have no idea where you obtain the data you quote; but this I know.
Though I wish it were otherwise, as of now (today) Ms. Palin does not have enough votes to place a distant third in a republican primary (yes...my opinion).
As to her winning debates....with whom? She'd never ever be able to hold her own if she had to go up against the little tin god now. She needs to establish some much much wider credentials. She needs to fight a few 3 rounders with suitable opponents...the get on a sub-card somewhere and win a few 10 rounders...convincingly so (pardon all the boxing references - but this is going to be a fight.)
She needs to become the recognized "under-dog" but a sure winner if given the chance. Right now, she's not even out of the gym yet...she's working on the speed bag, and doin' a few rounds with the heavy bag....and has a very deep but terribly narrow following.
She'd better get into the ring...and win some.
At any other time in history, I might agree with some of your points, but here is what I believe...my opinion.
We are living in a time when all bets are off. The body politic is in chaos. The corruption is out of control. The hatred from the left is pure and utter insanity. This is not simply an election. We are at war. In a war, you pick your battles. You do not play by your enemy’s rules.
You gather your army. You find and appoint the best generals and commanders.
Sarah has impressed me for these reasons. SHE owns the battlefield. If she so much as utters three words on her Facebook or her Twitter, the whole world hears her. She has not made a single misstep or mistake since she trusted John McCain and his staff and they literally threw her to the wolves. That she survived and thrived after that is a miracle in itself and a testament to the inner strength she possesses. She TRUSTS herself. And she TRUSTS the American People.
She has not made that mistake again. When she speaks, she steps back and allows all the incoming. They are so bent on finding something wrong that they say anything no matter how outrageous or obnoxious, and keep at it way too long. It’s called overkill and they do it every time. They do it until common sense and common decency in the land sees them for what they are. The left is losing this war. And the more they lose, the more shrill they become.
It is winter. Sarah has worked beyond anything we had a right to expect from her. She gave us and our Tea Party the impetus to fight and fight even when it seemed the odds were so far against us that we had nary a prayer of success.
She walked the walk. She showed up for us. She didn’t stay in the bunker and watch through a slit in the armor. She didn’t just join the battle, she led it. And no matter what anyone says or what words they say to detract from it, SHE WON hands down and WE won, hands down.
Had it not been for corruption beyond our capacity to overcome, (at the time,) the sweep would have been complete. The left knows this. They fear her and every time they attack, she beats them by speaking once then remaining silent while they chew themselves up.
We are smarter now. We watched what they did and we know how they operate. And Sarah Palin has become their paradox...one they do not understand and cannot defeat. She is the proverbial immovable object AND the irrisistable force.
And she will choose her own time and place. No one else will choose for her. Her instincts have carried her this far and dang if she doesn’t deserve a rest.
When she chooses, we will be there. When she chooses, she will win. WE will win.
If I was Sarah, I would be watching and listening to everything and everybody, and choosing those I trust MOST for when the fight is joined. I would have my generals ready to move as fast out of the gate as possible.
I trust her. There is no other politician on earth I can say that about without lying through my teeth.
WHEN she chooses, IF she chooses, she will win.
She has. Did you follow the recent elections? That counts for something...
Latest Wapo Republican primary poll: Huckabee 21%, Palin 19%, Romney 17%.
(Source)
And this despite a week of withering LSM criticism. Like Rush says, the Left will let us know who they fear.
Sarah will do great in any debate because she sticks to core principles and doesn't get lost in the weeds.