Leaders, by definition, are few in numbers. Besides, she can tell her vision of the past and future of the party, instead of leaving the defining to either failed politicians, or those with the agendas of defining the party and her differently from reality.
She had the problem of being defined by others during the 2008 campaign, both her enemies and her supposed "friends" in McCain campaign who used her as a pinata for their own failings. Now could be her time to [re-]define herself, and, hopefully, the party. Now she can speak for herself, in her own voice, without McCain "filter". If she does it well, she'll leave the "panel" well behind, and advance her stature as one of the leaders in the party.
I hope you are right.