Posted on 08/18/2011 6:22:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Former George W. Bush chief of staff Karl Rove has been an influential GOP strategist for decades.
When Rove speaks, many Republicans listen. So when the outspoken campaign manager spoke up about Paul Ryan or Chris Christie joining the race to become the GOP nominee for the 2012 presidential election, his hint about another potential candidate entering the field also raised eyebrows.
"And I also think looking at the schedule of Sarah Palin after Labor Day that she's got a campaign style schedule post-Labor Day that's either going to accentuate her celebrity hood or lay the predicate for running for president," Rove said.
Palin has been mum about a possible run, though she has a solid base of supporters. Some political experts believe her candidacy may hinge on the success of Michele Bachmann, the only female candidate in the GOP field. Bachmann won the recent Iowa straw poll, but with the addition of Texas Governor Rick Perry, it's possible Bachmann's popularity might fade.
Should Bachman not poll well in the coming weeks, Palin may throw her hat into the race. It's also possible Palin may run no matter how well Bachmann is doing.
The big difference between Palin and Bachmann is immigration policy, a hot topic going into the 2012 Election. Palin has spoken about granting legal amnesty while Bachmann has been strongly opposed to mass legalization.
Palin is well-liked amongst Republicans. Research in June by Public Policy Polling showed 62 percent of Republicans giving Palin a favorable rating.
It's possible the former Alaska governor could be waiting for more candidates to join the race, since a crowded field could strengthen her chances of winning primaries. Palin has strong name recognition, and also has a decent foothold in the Tea Party movement.
In a March Pew Research poll, of those who agreed with the Tea Party movement, 24 percent had Mitt Romney as their first-choice candidate, while 19 percent chose Mike Huckabee, a candidate who won't be running. Palin was at a respectable 12 percent, below experienced candidates Newt Gingrich at 15 percent and Ron Paul at 13 percent. For Palin, a 12 percent showing, is a solid showing amongst a key GOP voter block.
In the same poll, Republican voters showed they cared more about electability over ideology when it comes to picking their candidates -- a similar sentiment to liberals in 2004 when the Democrats tried to unseat Bush. The poll showed 56 percent of conservative voters prefer the candidate with the best chance of beating Obama, compared to 31 percent who would prefer the candidate with conservative positions on every issue.
Those numbers may work against Palin. Top-tier candidates like Romney are less polarizing than the former vice-presidential candidate and would likely fair better in a general election. However, Palin seems to challenge conventional political wisdom, as evident with her abandoning her term as governor. She may run in spite of poll numbers and public sentiment.
So will she run make the big leap?
One piece of evidence says she will. Palin named George Washington as her favorite founding father because of his reluctance to serve at President but still serving as form of answering the call of duty. Her long delay in announcing her candidacy might be her way of showing that running for president is for the good of the country and not for her own personal gain.
Palin recently seemed to describe herself when discussing the ideal presidential candidate.
"That candidate's not fearing so much what the interpretation is going to be when it comes to the comments and positions you are articulating, but just speaking from the heart, saying, 'Here's how I think we can turn the economy around, and here's what I've done in the past to show you truly a foundation of where my beliefs come from of what works in a small town, in a state, in a big industry like oil and gas - what it is that can be done to turn the economy around,'" Palin said.
There is zero chance of Palin losing.
That is what the mediots internal polling has told them, and that is the reason for spending billions of $ of air time attacking her.
She is as good as elected, as long as she plays the financial logistics correctly. That is why she hasn’t made it official yet.
I don't agree. We need an "outside" firebrand to do in 2012 what was done in 2010 to elect more good people to Congress. Such effort and success would not be forgotten.
It would only disappoint those who have pinned all their hopes on Palin since Nov 5, 2008.
Do you really believe she has not already?
Sheesh. She'll be lucky to win another office anywhere in her entire life.
She's shown herself to be a complete idiot.
WE all need to deal with the fact that Perry is likely going to be the GOP presidential nominee. I’m backing Bachmann but I think Perry is going to win.
Don’t worry, Perry has no chance once the real process gets started.
That was then...this is now. She saw what went down in TX. for the 82 lege. he is not a TEA PARTIER he is a globalist. This is the battle between the patriots and the globalists. Lady Guinevere does not support the globalists.
Prepare for disapointment. Perry will likely be the 2012 GOP nominee and the next president of the USA. I’m not advocating it I’m predicting it.
“Talk like that really helps Palin. /s”
Palin’s supporters are vastly nastier than Palin’s ever been.
Would you like your crow with some Fava beans and a nice Chianti?
Ah still using that univision interview, huh? Of course you know it isn’t true yet still post it. Hey, tell me! What does Rick Perry think of Arizona’s immigration law? How about border fences? In-state tuition fr illegals? Bi-national health insurance?
You’re just not looking at the evidence.
He is a short timer, and will not last.
His negatives make Rudy look like Reagan.
Isn’t it hilarious how much the Perrydrones are so against Palin yet still dreaming and wishing she’ll endorse Jimmy Rick?
‘She will not back Perry he is too sleazy for her.’
Gee, ya think?
Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor.
Recently restated that she likes Perry
“He walks the walk of a true conservative” “And he sticks by his guns — and you know how I feel about guns.”
Sarah Palin
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/palin-perry-201.html
You have to be too intelligent not to see why Palin had to support Perry in Texas, but will not any more.
Today she flatly said that none of the declared candidates were qualified. NONE!
She is the next president, and if you don’t like it, you’re in for some tough years, like the BDSers did during W’s reign. People recognized her unique qualifications in ‘08, and her support continues to grow.
Saving the country means electing Palin and lots of real conservatives in congress. Not doing all of the above means take your gold, guns and MREs and look for Shangri-La.
What’s really hilarious is how few of them there are here, and how much noise they make.
“Today she flatly said that none of the declared candidates were qualified. NONE!”
Do you have a source or link for that? It’s a pretty strong statement and, frankly, sounds out of character. I just can’t keep up with all the Palin/Paul/Cain/Bachmann/Perry/Romney/Gingrich threads and missed that.
The right-wing Leftists (aka RINOs) in the GOP will do what they can to stop her from running if she decides to do so.
Really? I wish sometimes I was a betting man, because every now and then, there comes along an opportunity for great weath, had at the expense of those who do not know what they do not know. But alas, I am not a betting man, by conviction, and I will have to settle for ... well ... let's just say I think your extraordinarily confident prognostication should be reviewed in a few weeks. Meanwhile, don't quit your day job.
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