The rhyme and reason of Sarah Palin's endorsements

The Washington Post's The Fix ^ | June 4, 2010 | Chris Cillizza

[2ndDivisionVet]

After a stretch in which an endorsement from Sarah Palin was considered a rarity, the former Alaska governor has become something of an endorsement machine as of late. In the past week alone, she has endorsed four candidates, ranging from a tea party contender for Senate in her home state of Alaska to the GOP establishment favorite for Iowa governor.

Palin has backed both clear winners and decided long-shots; she's weighed in on behalf of "mama grizzlies," but an extra X chromosome doesn't necessarily mean an automatic endorsement (see Hutchison, Kay Bailey). Some candidates (such as former Redskins tight end and Washington Senate hopeful Clint Didier) have enjoyed her backing long before their primaries; another, Fox News commentator Angela McGlowan, got the Palin nod via a tweet mere hours before polls closed on primary day.

The recent barrage of endorsements also represents a shift from Palin's strategy in March, when she released a target list of 20 House districts, but did not name favored GOP candidates in those races.

We took a look at Palin's recent endorsements and found that if there's any rhyme or reason to them, it's that they're as idiosyncratic and unpredictable as the former governor herself.

That said, Palin's endorsements do break down into a few rough categories, which we've outlined below:

1. Outsiders/tea party candidates: Palin has always touted herself as a candidate running outside the establishment; it comes as little surprise, then, that a fair number of the candidates she's backed this cycle have tended to be political "outsiders" (or have at least been running under that mantle).

Ophthalmologist Rand Paul (R) in Kentucky is the most prominent example in this category.(continued)

[budwiesest]

she is endorsing those who are most conservative and most probable for winning.

Nailed it. She'd like nothing more than a team she could coach to victory and get results (a win for America). No easy task with today's media conjob and billionare antis funding our defeat. A real leader will not flinch, whatever the odds, with truth in her quiver.
(That's right, I said it, 'her')

[unseen1]

Also those that ask for her endorsement. She made that very clear at the outset. She will not endorse anyone that has not asked her for an endorsement. she does not stick her nose in where its not wanted.

Mitt used that condition against her in VA and NJ and Mass when he strongly hinted his support was on condition that they would not ask for Palin’s.

[unseen1]

After a stretch in which an endorsement from Sarah Palin was considered a rarity, the former Alaska governor has become something of an endorsement machine as of late. this is because the candidates are now seeing the power of Palin and are flocking to her to seek her endorsement. Its simple at the beginning of the year the establishment with Mitt in the lead cheering them on had a narrative that Palin was divisive. that she would do more harm than good for a candidate because she would get the left all bent out of shape. therefore the word went out to avoid Palin. However after the book tour some of that thinking changed. then came Ny23rd and the response to Palin's endorsement was out of this world. then other underdogs started to call on Palin and when she endorsed these underdogs they surged in the polls. Now the floodgates are open and Palin power is a known fact and now the candidates are beating down the door to get her endorsement. It's been a long year for Palin she has done what few other politicans have ever done. she is now the kingmaker in the GOP and the elites know it. You don't hear anyone dissing Gov Palin from the elites anymore do you?

[unseen1]

the comments at the post crack me up. they show their stupidity on so many levels. a lot of them think Palin’s endorses have all lost. they compare her to hitler and then say know one cares about her thoughts if she has any.

Its like reading 6th graders talking about calculus. they simply are clueless lefties. Which gives me hope that they are going to be surprised very much come NOV 2012. They have swallowed the marxist’s talking points hook line and sinker. They can not even fathom that Palin has tremendous support in the country.

Hopefully they will believe their own lies enough to try to get her nominated like an operation choas from the DNC think she will be an easy defeat for them.

Little do they know or understand.

[Al B.]

Is this what passes for political analysis at the Washington Post? That is sad.

[Lakeshark]

Probably a bitter, miserable Paulbot

Gee, I wonder who that might be?

*rolls eyes*

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Waiting for the inevitable posts from PDS sufferers and 100% purists complaining about Sarah Palin’s two bad or questionable endorsements."

Is it now the 'rule' that you must be a certified worshipper of Gov. Palin to comment on these stories? Maybe it is not only the progressives that find that whole free speech thing a little troublesome.

[SoConPubbie]

Is it now the 'rule' that you must be a certified worshipper of Gov. Palin to comment on these stories? Maybe it is not only the progressives that find that whole free speech thing a little troublesome.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner folks!

The first obligatory PDS Sufferer Post for this thread, complete with the usual false slur concerning Palin Supporters being either Cult members or Worshippers!

It took a while, but one finally poked it's head up.

You just can't beat the irony!

It just doesn't get better than that for proof!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

So, the answer to my very simple question was obviously "yes". I get a rant about being PDS from you in response. I think it is pretty clear whom around here is deranged.

Don't worry, all you folks that got pinged to my remarks, I'll never read or post on one of your Palin worship threads again. If you believe that you are doing this potential candidate any service by belittling anyone deciding to closely examine exactly what she is as a political figure, think again.

[onyx]

I’d like to note/save this article with proper keywords, but take a look at them!

Who the heck has been crapping around with the keywords?

[onyx]

Is this what passes for political analysis at the Washington Post? That is sad.

In the world of Chris Cillizza and the WaPo editors it is.

[rabidralph]

Why does a reporter care who a housewife endorses?

[rabidralph]

She drives a fair amount of FReepers crazy, too. Also, a good thing.

[Al B.]

Josh Painter does a great job of deconstructing this liberal gibberish at his blog:

WaPo liberals try to parse Gov. Palin's endorsements

Josh's last paragraph is the heart of it and explains exactly what Palin is trying to do. The libs at WaPo should read it. They might learn something. Then again, maybe it's better if they don't. :)

[Uncle Ivan]

If you believe that you are doing this potential candidate any service by belittling anyone deciding to closely examine exactly what she is as a political figure

Then perhaps you should start closely examining her. There's a difference between that and mindlessly bitching. We see enough of it already here.

[Admin Moderator]

You’d better knock it off with the keyword spamming.

[secondamendmentkid]

The problem is not with someone who may disagree with an endorsement by Ms. Palin. The problem is that rather than urging support for their candidates, eg. Hayworth, Devore, et. al, the primary focus is on Sarah Palin who must be a useless RINO because she has endorsed someone who in their infinite wisdom is a RINO, in some cases without substantiation. Such names as “Princess”, “Precious”, are demeaning, over the top, and are certain to bring a response from those of us that admire Ms. Palin. It comes across that the real agenda is trashing Sarah Palin rather than supporting the supposed “true conservative”. Nobody wants to talk about the two Oklahoma senators (nobody questions the bona fides conservatives) that endorsed Fiorina, so why the obsession with Palin?

These same people who criticize her relentlessly, bunker themselves when it comes to who they believe might be the best person to lead conservatism going forward. That’s because they are apparently afraid to defend their choice of potential candidates, or there is universal recognition that he/she doesn’t have a chance.

Ms. Palin is politically astute and her conservative credentials are without question.

[Lakeshark]

Were we right or what?

*High fives*

[SoConPubbie]

if you believe that you are doing this potential candidate any service by belittling anyone deciding to closely examine exactly what she is as a political figure, think again.

Here's what you said to start off this discussion:

Is it now the 'rule' that you must be a certified worshipper of Gov. Palin to comment on these stories? Maybe it is not only the progressives that find that whole free speech thing a little troublesome.

Is there any chance you could be just a little bit objective and honest here and admit that it is just a tad bit hypocritical of you to slander Palin supporters as hypocritical and then criticize others who take you to task for that mischaracterization and claim it is somehow limiting your free speech?

Once again, you're posts are going a long way of proving my point of the behavior of PDS Sufferers.

[SoConPubbie]

You’d better knock it off with the keyword spamming.

Oh Rabs!

Caught in the act!

Ha!

I'll bet you don't even know how bad this makes you look!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!