I like Palin. I think she received extraordinarily unfair treatment in 2008, and since.
But my nearly reflexive urge to defend her is based more on the despicable people who attack her rather than strong support for her. I just don’t see her as capable of winning the Presidency. I think she’d get beat worse than McCain did. You mention moderates; it’s with those voters that I doubt she can do well enough. I think the Left’s demonization of Palin has been and would be effective with moderates.
I really don’t know who is out there that could unite conservatives and independents in large enough numbers to defeat the Democrats growing, immigration-driven demographic edge.
Who is out there that the RATs wouldn't do the same exact thing to, and how would you combat it?
If there isn't real political baggage, the RATs just make it up.