Unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) a lot of people just don't see or understand the campaign strategy Palin is employing.
It's really not rocket science. She's got 100% name recognition, which means that she doesn't have to campaign for as long as others who need to establish themselves, and get the face time required for the public to make a judgement about them.
While the others are in the middle of the field battling it out with each other in the demolition derby, she's outside the ring, taking on no damage and conserving hers and her supporters' resources for the real fight ahead.
In the meantime, because she's established alternative lines of communication with the public, she continues to get her message out to the people. Today's speech is an excellent example of that.
The demolition derby of the early primary is a fight that she is wise to stay out of. There is nothing for her to gain by being a part of it, and lots to lose. When she does step in, her opponents will all be broken and bloodied by the previous months of the contest, and some will have fallen by the wayside.
It's not costing her a thing, in terms of public relations or capital (human and otherwise) to stick it out until the last possible minute. Her supporters aren't going anywhere, and she doesn't need the big money donors and professional political operatives to gain all the benefits of running a winning campaign, while unannounced.
Brilliant strategy, if you ask me.
She IS running, but not officially — yet.
Waiting, waiting, waiting for the day she announces!
You nailed it.
The strategy may frustrate the media and the pols who expect campaigns to be run corporately but she has no need or desire to run it that way. Look at the number of posts on the Palin threads and you know she will get the lion’s share of attention.
Why not save your ammo for the real battle and not sell yourself. She is rewriting the script and will win this in a landslide.