The problem isn’t with Republicans. As this poll shows most GOPers like Sarah Palin and thought she helped McCain. The problem is with so called independents and moderate voters. Both those groups of voters went for Obama. Especially the self described moderates.
Four years of highern taxes under Obama, coupled with their increasing weariness of being called "RACIST!!!" every five minutes under the new ideological regime, will change that. ;)
She can get those Independenta and moderates. She was too new to the scene but if she does decide to run, she will be doing lots of interviews and primary debates.
If she does well those minds will change about her.
And the reason why they think that way....can we have a roll call please......It's called the CNNN factor. Certainly Not Neutral News.
Worry about the base first and the moderates and independents later.
The conventional wisdom on Reagan for years before he won was that he was a conservative extremist with limited appeal who would kill the party with moderates and independents. Yet once those groups got a long look at him they saw the truth and he went on to win them in droves.
The conventional wisdom on Obama at one time was that he was too extreme to the left to win in the general. Both men began with enthusiastic base support which they cultivated into movements with wider appeal. That's the path to victory.
The base is the engine of the candidate. The bigger the base the more powerful the engine. Going after a nominee because of appeal to moderates and independents is a proven failure. It's hard to imagine a Republican nominee with more inherent appeal to moderates and independents than McCain. But that appeal never translated into the necessary grassroots enthusiasm.
Moderates don't motivate. Candidates like Palin or Jindal who are passionate and consistent advocates of the core values of the party do motivate.
IMO the problem was with McCain’s campaign expecting her to go from 0 to 100 mph on national issues with no primary season warm up and a hostile press. They should have picked her a few months early and quietly “warmed” her up on national issues. She was great and it’ll be a lot more difficult for the press to beat her up again if she runs.