Therefore, if the GOP is to win in 2012 under those circumstances, Senator McCain will have to (1) make good on his promise of putting Governor Palin in charge of energy independence and (2) Governor Palin would have to have some highly visible and quantifiable successes on that front.
Palin already beats Clinton on two basic points: i.e. she's also a woman and has a much more attractive personality and biography to boot.
Visible success in energy independence would beat Clinton arguments about experience and would trump Clinton, i.e. "Clinton's husband handed her carte blanche to reform health care and she failed. Palin earned the right to be energy czar through experience and succeeded."
The experience factor will not be a credible argument against Palin after 4 years of the VP. However, I agree with you about her duties as VP. She will have to have important, high visibility jobs as a VP such as spearheading energy legislation through the Senate to claim on her resume. I think McCain would be one who was willing to give her responsibilities as VP.