Posted on 07/07/2011 9:58:54 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Peter Singleton doesn’t consider himself former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin‘s “ground man” in Iowa.
The California resident, who “spends a lot of time in Iowa,” just considers himself “your average private citizen and grassroots activist who wants to have his voice heard. To say I’m the ‘man on the ground’ isn’t accurate, but I’m not offended.”
Yet, Singleton, an attorney, and his political opinion of Palin have circulated blogs and news articles ranging from the Wall Street Journal, to the Los Angeles Times, to The Atlantic, to even the U.K. Telegraph in Europe — some of which have dubbed him one of Palin’s top political operatives.
“I’ve never met Gov. Palin,” Singleton told The Iowa Independent, with a chuckle.
Yet Singleton has volunteered and organized grassroots organizations for Palin tirelessly, including recruiting supporters and volunteers for Organize 4 Palin during the former Governor’s recent trip to Pella for the premiere of the documentary “The Undefeated.” He visits the Hawkeye State repeatedly to continue garnering support for the woman he believes can defeat President Barack Obama in 2012.
“I believe she will run, in fact, it is a certainty she will,” Singleton told the Iowa Independent Wednesday, an idea he bases on his own opinion and analysis of her political movements so far compared to high profile Republicans who have declared candidacy. “Now, this is my opinion, so is there a chance I could be wrong? Well, sure. But based on what I have seen publicly, I just find it inconceivable she would sit 2012 out.”
Recently, former WHO Radio talk show host Steve Deace, commented on his website he had met with Singleton, and the pair started talking about the 2012 election, which is comprised of a host of GOP candidates yet to catch fire with Republicans and social or religious Conservative.
“I asked him point blank if he thought Palin was going to declare her candidacy, and his answer was ’100 percent,’” Deace wrote.
Strong words for a presidential prospect who has not formed a presidential exploratory committee, made copious appearances in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, or has dropped indications that an impending announcement is on the proverbial horizon.
But, Singleton, who confirmed the meeting with Deace, said sometimes going against the grain is just as effective in an election cycle, rather than following the leader.
“Look, Gov. Palin is unique and has her own rules. She can’t do what other (candidates) do and just play it loose,” Singleton said. “While others are out just running for president, she’s actually demonstrating leadership. She actively opposed Obamacare, she opposed cap and trade. There is match between her track record of leadership and the needs of this country.”
And Palin, who has visited Iowa once since candidates have started their formal announcements for the White House, also has name recognition to carry a potential campaign.
“Just because she is making movements like the other candidates does not mean she’s not running,” Singleton speculated.
When asked if Palin — often scrutinized by media reports as being inexperienced in the political arena, and teased in parodies during her 2008 vice-presidential bid — could actually beat Obama if nominated, Singleton was upbeat.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Absolutely she can.”
The part about her not having an exploratory committee cracks me up...
(hope you're doing okay)
cheers,
Jim
But, but ... that’s how Milt, Bob Dole, Tiny Tim and the rest of the RINO Regiment would do it! Can’t she play by the RNC rules?
This Singleton fella is sort of interesting. He’s rather confident that he knows Palin’s intent; yet he has never met her.
I don’t know if I am as confident in Singleton as Singleton is.
“Just because she is making movements like the other candidates does not mean she’s not running,” Singleton speculated.”
I’m not sure I follow Singleton’s logic here, either. The two “nots” sort of confuse me, as does the preface about her making movements “like the other candidates”...which she is most definitely NOT doing (misplaced “not” I think).
Palin is NOT doing stuff like the other candidates. But she might be running. We’ll know in a month or two.
This is an important story...it is also a fascinating one.
So many things could happen between now and the time people really begin looking at the candidates.
Incumbency is a large advantage(even if it is Mr. Obama).
I’d like to see Gov. Palin get into the fray. I think she would make it a better campaign.
But I have yet to see a poll(even though polls at this time are just about pointless) where she doesn’t have high unfavorables. That baffles me.
Hey, if she’s on the ballot, she’s getting my vote!
I converse regularly via phone and email with persons I have never “met”.
Born February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, ID (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)
Parents were
Charles R Heath, born in ID
Sarah Sheeran, born in WI
Both parents were US Citizens at the time of her birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)
Sarah Palin is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama ISN'T!
I’ve only met two FReepers that I know of, but I work with several dozen every day. Our modern world doesn’t require face-to-face meetings, now does it?
You think Singleton is in touch with Palin electronically?
I have my doubts. He sounds like a complete independent effort.
The 'unfavorables' are a result of the Tina Fey caricature and the rest of the $h!t that the 'Rat Drive-By Media (and some useful idiot inside-the-beltway RINOs) has been flinging Sarah's way ever since that brilliant speech at the 2008 convention. Once she actually starts the campaign in earnest and goes around the media filter to connect with the public at large, those 'unfavorables' will drop really quick, as her message will resonate with the majority of us that are Obama-weary.
Bottom line: IMHO, Sarah Palin CAN win. Period.
Singleton has become such a fixture in Iowa politics that he is often confused for a SarahPAC staffer when conducting his work. While professing certitude that Palin will seek the presidency, Singleton is equally emphatic that he has had no direct involvement with the potential candidate. Asked about a phone conversation he was overheard having with Palin aide Rebecca Mansour a few hours before the pro-Palin documentary, "The Undefeated," premiered here last Tuesday, Singleton paused for several seconds before offering a nothing-to-see-here explanation. "Rebecca and I are friends," he said, explaining that they met years ago on the website Conservatives4Palin.com. "She was probably asking me what the crowd was like and how things were going." At the cookout that followed the premiere of the film, it was clear that it was Singleton -- and not any paid Palin staffer -- who was running the show as he dealt with logistics and worked to introduce attendees to one another. With just a short time to prepare the event, Singleton showed off the reach of his Iowa rolodex as he took the lead in cultivating an invitation list that resulted in nearly 1,000 Iowans attending the barbeque outside the Pella Opera House. The crowd included local residents and rank-and-file Palin supporters, who mingled with a few prominent state Republicans, including 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats and Secretary of State Matt Schultz.
singleton is in direct contact with one of Palin's top aides as "friends" I don't know how much more of a direct link you need.
Palin’s unfavs dropped from 655 to 52% per june 3rd or 4th CNN poll after her bus tour which shows that “unfavs” are soft and can be changed with a sustained campaign.
Agreed!
Yep, in the same way the college basketball team's ball boy "independently" holds scrimmages and drills before Midnight Madness...
I'm surprised to hear that the Huckabee guy Vander Plaats was there, and not Branstad. Sarah had picked Branstad over Vander Plaats the last election cycle. I would have thought that Rollins had him locked up with his new client.
Singleton knows two people very well:
Rebecca Mansour and Steve Bannon.
Singleton is a cutout. All you need to know is who he is friends with.
Scott Conroy wrote a very revealing article about Palin’s Iowa operation a few days ago. People have no idea of the work Singleton has put in.
There’s a Palin person in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Best,
Chris
I believe the story is missing a “not”, as in “is not making moves like other candidates”—then the triple-negative sentence makes perfect sense.
And I agree with Singleton. She’s running.
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