One downside with Palin’s resignation, is that the Left will be even more emboldened to smear other candidates like Jindal or Haley Barbour.
The ethics complaint battle is a complicated issue that can’t be answered in soundbites. America is full of people who listen to only soundbites. That includes even conservatives. For example, Huckabee, on Fox Sunday, boosted how he faced ethics complaints too as AR Governor and don’t quit. A lot of conservatives will be taken in by Huckabee’s statements in the primaries.
The Left will always be emboldened to attack, but what they won’t be able to do now is try to sink her vis a vis anything she does as Governor. They simply were not going to permit her to do her job, as I’ve stated many times. Barbour and Jindal will get the usual crap, but they’re not viewed in the same light as Palin and aren’t subjected to such a level of scrutiny and sabotage. Remember what I said about differing treatment.
As for the Huckster, given that he himself was a RINO who kneecapped Conservatives not under his thumb in Arkansas (nevermind his retention of Democrat appointees), I scarcely have an ounce of sympathy for him, and he never got a fraction of the attacks and obstructionism even with a 75% Democrat legislature.
Palin will take her message straight to the people.