SNL was scripted, very low risk there. Submitting to interviews by Oprah or, for that matter, any network anchor is a mistake with a lot more potential for loss than gain. Sarah has already demonstrated that she can do the unconventional and come out on top, so why not do the unconventional again: Ignore Oprah, ignore ABCNNBCBS, and refuse any and all debates “moderated” by network operatives.
Please read post #33. It really says it all.
I don't think I agree with that. I don't know if Oprah is the right venue, or now is the right time, but at some point, Palin is going to have to submit to the long-form, sit-down policy-based interviews and begin to put together a coherent and lengthy policy and issue answers.
While she is rabidly popular with the base, and especially social conservatives, her 18% showing in the Rasmussen poll indicates that she's anything but on top. For her to have a legitimate shot of national office, she's going to have to appeal to a larger audience - in short, many more people are going to have start taking her seriously on substantive policy issues. The only way she gets there, is by eventually sitting for these kinds of interviews, many of which are conducted without the comfort of a safety net, as was seen in the Gibson & Couric interviews.
I don't think Oprah will be make or break, but it won't be unimportant with respect to the broader electorate's perception of Palin.