After 2008 I wanted him to start campaigning hard to take Obama down - using radio and social media. He did not - Palin did and earned my trust
I am less enamored of populism. Don't get me wrong - I love it if they have a record to back it up.
DeMint and Pence are 'what's left' of the old guard Reaganites (of which I am one also), and are probably the only ones that can awaken the Conservative juggernaut. Pence has a decided civil-libertarian component that would bring the libertarians along too, and would withstand scrutiny amid the three factions. An excellent choice.
No offense, but I am not much of a Palin fan (wouldn't get my vote).