Hmm...I have a hard time believing people who support Palin would be supporting Romney as a second choice. I mean if Palin came out tomorrow and said she was not going to run would you be sending money to Romney? I doubt it. Seems to me Romney’s base would be GOP and business elites. Is that really Palin’s base of support?
For Palin supporters, Romney is a non-starter, as post #17 makes clear - and I share that position. Romney does have 'big business' support (he'll keep the subsidy scams going and the tax loopholes open) and I believe it's clear that Romney is the GOP establishment's choice in 2012. Palin is anathema to those folks (she's a conservative, and not in name only) while business contributors are probably wary of her in light of how she handled the Big Oil companies when she was governor of Alaska. Besides, many big business contributors give to Democrats as well as Republicans to keep their access options open. No matter. Sarah Palin has millions of supporters that will contribute hundreds of millions to her campaign - and she'll need it. The vicious attacks on Palin have only served to harden the determination of her supporters. The fact that Palin is shunned by the Republican establishment is seen as a badge of honor and validation of her authenticity as a solid conservative. She'll be fine - if she chooses to run, as I believe she will. If she doesn't? Things can change quickly but today, Michele Bachmann with Herman Cain a distant possibility - but not Romney. Never Romney.