Romney really should have had this done by now. Not even so much offering her a speaking slot, but having her on the team. And by that I mean “the minute he locked up the nomination”. Because even as a private citizen, she’s still a popular figure in the GOP and in the greater conservative movement, rightly so, and she’s earned the right to be treated as such. And because no matter how good the polls look, you simply never have the luxury of throwing away a supporter like that. Let alone her supporters.
Running mate? In order to avoid a rerun of 2008, I doubt she’d do it without the kind of commitments of present loyalty and future support from Mitt and his senior staff that Mitt may not want to give and (maybe “and” should be “because”?) his staff wouldn’t. Even if the staffers did commit, I’m not sure I trust most of that species, let alone these guys, any further than I can throw that fat eunuch Schmidt. But he really should have called her, sooner rather than later, and asked “What do I need to do to get you on the team, endorsing me, campaigning for me?” Whatever it would have been, it would almost have to have been worth it to avoid this.
Yes, and if he were the "severe conservative" he claims to be -- or any other kind of conservative -- he WOULD have made the appropriate overtures. Just more proof, if any were needed, that he is still what he always was, and hasn't changed one single spot. To Romney, Palin burns like holy water.