[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Of course this is absurd on its face.

The only real reason someone would want someone to stay out is if they thought they could win. And someone wins by typically getting a plurality of the votes.

So this is saying something that a plurality of those polled think Palin should stay out because they fear that a plurality of those voting would vote her in?

Makes no sense to me. Not that I would expect it to.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The only real reason someone would want someone to stay out is if they thought they could win. And someone wins by typically getting a plurality of the votes.

So this is saying something that a plurality of those polled think Palin should stay out because they fear that a plurality of those voting would vote her in?

It does make sense. The key is to be clear about the term "plurality." When there are multiple candidates, not just two, a plurality of less than 50% controls (there being no uniquely principled way to decide among more than two candidates).

Say, for example, that Sarah has 30% support and no one else can muster 20%. None of the other candidates is helped, all are hurt, by the entry of Sarah into the race. The majority, in that case, agrees on nothing except that they hope that Sarah Palin doesn't enter the race. Exactly, as you say, because of fear that she might win a plurality. And knock their own preferred candidate out of the race.

[time4good]

BINGO!!!! Like you and 4rcane said - the logic is faulty on its face or any other end you look at it - if Palin is THAT strong that she can battle in the primary to convince ALL of the negative neybobs (sp?) - then she WOULD create a tsunami to beat ZERO.

If NOT - then the best person would win (NOT really but - according to their desires/logic).

Palin herself countless times has stated the same thing - "The competition is good and healthy..."

[CharlesWayneCT]

Some might believe that a Palin run would divide the party, and if she didn’t win, or other candidates said anything negative about her, the Palin supporters would get upset and turn off, making it that much harder for the eventual nominee to carry the base into the general election.

For those people, if Palin doesn’t run, and instead endorses another candidate, that would be much better for the party. Of course, these poeple obviously believe that Palin won’t win the nomination.

Others might think she would win the nomination, but not be able to win the general election, which they would also believe would be bad for the party.

I don’t agree with this assessment — I’m just explaining to you two reasons why someone would oppose a Palin entry that are different than “the only reason” you could think of.