I didn't say that about Palin. I said Reagan didn't enter until Novemeber...Palin can wait as long as she thinks she should as will the others who have not yet declared. The race hasn't even begun yet...the candidates are still being paraded....the first debate was simply a show for the early arrivals.
Regardless.... her exposure and following has stood the test of time and tide and I see very little collapsing of her base where it matters.....most re cognize she does not play by political rules and thus far it certainly has worked for her.
I agree, I have seen very little erosion to her base. What concerns me, however, is that I have seen no improvement in her standings with people outside of her base, despite having been on the campaign trail for almost three years. (Yes, she has been campaigning, with her reality show, her bus tour, her Fox commentator position.) The question is not whether the hard-core Palin supporters will vote for her - it is whether anyone else will. That is an open question, and it does not look good for her at this time.