A TEA Party conservative supported by the GOP may have made the difference.
I’m very much a TEA party supporter. Proudly so in fact. The TEA party is large and enthusiastic. However, it also is made up of pretty much all those that would vote for the Republican candidate anyways.
The TEA party isn’t monolithic to be sure. But it’s still an arm of the conservative side of the Republican party.
Which means you really don’t gain anything.
Palin could not hope to get the support of 51% of the country.