As chair of the RNC, I think Sarah would have more influence on the direction of the party and it's influence on those already in congress. She would be an especially strong factor in the 2012 national elections.
Of course it's only my gut feeling; but, I don't yet see Sarah giving middle America the confidence in her ability to compete with despots on the world stage.
I think the middle knows she’d deal with the despots probably better than anyone else running. And she has won over the independent/moderate middle in the past, reaching an unheard of 90% approval rating as Alaska guv.
Most of that squishy middle is poorly informed and they only make up their minds in the last month up to the election. I agree with you that she certainly has work to do there (though I think it is a mix between overcoming the media caricature and a socio-cultural gap with the upper middle class that she has to bridge). Where we disagree is on her chances, compared to anyone else we have, of getting to a majority in the swing-vote states that matter. Look there specifically, and I think you’ll see she’s in far better shape already than the media want you to realize. I still want to see and hear more from her and the other candidates, but my guess is she’s our best hope.