Yes, when Sarah Palin didn't endorse Todd Akin, that got my attention as well. It made me think that she (and/or her staff) had not really investigated his record and his "party faithfulness" (for lack of a better term). Todd's first vote in the US House of Representatives was AGAINST GWB's "No Child Left Behind" bill; that had to take courage and backbone.
IMO, the main reason Sarah P endorsed Sarah S was because she was a woman = good old-fashioned "identity politics."
You may be right about WHY Sarah Palin endorsed Steelman instead of Akin, but even so she has been proven right.
If Steelman had won, I doubt we would be having this controversy.
>> “IMO, the main reason Sarah P endorsed Sarah S was because she was a woman = good old-fashioned ‘identity politics.’ “ <<
An absolute fact.
Look for Palin to remain silent now, to keep from looking more foolish than her 3rd party comment was.