Could a Palin presidential bid rewrite the campaign rulebook?

CBS News' Political Hotsheet ^ | August 23, 2011 | Lucy Madison

[2ndDivisionVet]

Conventional wisdom dictates that Sarah Palin is not running for president: it's too late; the field is too crowded, and many think she is more interested in making money than running for office.

On top of that, the onetime vice presidential candidate has failed to build substantial campaign apparatus in crucial early primary states. She has seemingly declined to aggressively court big-name, big-dollar Republican donors, and she has watched as countless top GOP operatives join her possible competitors' campaigns.

Palin, many believe, has handicapped her own prospects for 2012 and decided to sit it out.

--snip--

"Her campaign, if it is a campaign, just truly baffles me," says Republican strategist Eric Woolson, who managed former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's Iowa campaign in 2008 and worked on former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's 2012 bid until his recent withdrawal from the race. "She's not doing interviews; she really doesn't have the infrastructure around her that she would have typically set up by this point of the game... All of us would say, gosh, she should have had that infrastructure in place two years ago."(continued)

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Money and organization are the main ones.

You are right, but what has changed? She can organize for free. She can put up organizational plans, organize precinct captains, direct call centers, and mailings online for free. She can have a small cadre of trusted supporters with her in the same room, and they can delegate from their laptops to people on the ground.

She doesn't need hundreds of local offices (saving tons of campaign money), she doesn't need mass printings (each area can tailor make mailings and send them locally, again saving money), and she sure doesn't need the media buys that other candidates will need for name recognition boosts, she can focus on media buys in areas that will bring in fence sitters.

She posts on Facebook that she needs $3 million for a media buy in South Carolina, and she will have $5 million in 24 hours. She tweets that she need 500 people to walk the streets of Manchester, New Hampshire, and she will have 1000 volunteers in hours.

She understands the power of social networking and it will save her tons of money and energy that others will devote to things that are no longer needed.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Jake Trapper: Can I ask you a substantive question? *smirks smugly*
Gov. Palin: Sure. But I gotta go talk to a heifer first.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I was wondering how long it’d take for your crowd to get here. Gettin’ slow!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Judging from previous activity today, the boss is quickly losing patience with the disruptors...

Poly may soon be on the clock.

[SoConPubbie]

Here is what I see too. How does she mount a serious campaign without the basics? There are certain things that are unavoidable in a nationwide run. Money and organization are the main ones.

In case you missed the story yesterday, she already has the organization sewed up in Iowa according to campaign staffers from other campaigns, in fact, they stated they had never seen anything like it before, a completely volunteer organization in place even before the candidate announces.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Why in the world would she accept a nomination she has already attained?

[TomServo]

She can organize for free. She can put up organizational plans, organize precinct captains, direct call centers, and mailings online for free. She can have a small cadre of trusted supporters with her in the same room, and they can delegate from their laptops to people on the ground. She doesn't need hundreds of local offices (saving tons of campaign money), she doesn't need mass printings (each area can tailor make mailings and send them locally, again saving money), and she sure doesn't need the media buys

She must be running for President of Fantasyland.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Do you have a link to that story? I believe you, and I’d love to read that story.

[SuziQ]

Not doing interviews?
What does he think happened at the Fair in Iowa. Talk about being out of touch.

But they weren't REAL interviews, you understand, because they weren't conducted by REAL journalists, like those from ABC-NBC-CBS, or CNN-PMSNBC. ;o)

[DaxtonBrown]

[has failed to build substantial campaign apparatus in crucial early primary states]

Perhaps they haven't heard of this Internet thingy. Flash mobs can now coalesce in hours, not months or years.

[Lazlo in PA]

In case you missed the story yesterday...

I did miss it. I would like to see the story if you have it.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I think CNN had a front row seat. Wolf Blitzer even commented on here willingness to take on all questions.

[Michael Barnes]

If you recall as well, Her very first speech (during acceptance), HER teleprompter had problems and she winged it for a couple minutes until it was straightened out, nary a soul realized. She’s very fast on her feet and prepared for those situations.

[LibLieSlayer]

Not Sarah... never second banana again. She will run for President if she wants to.

LLS

[gov_bean_ counter]

sorry, “her willingness”.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"She must be running for President of Fantasyland."

Have you seen my tagline? I raised just over $40,000 for Fred Thompson in the very short time he was in the race. I was the chief fundraiser for the Polk County GOP in the mid-eighties. I am only one individual supporting her. If anyone is living in "fantasyland" it's her detractors. If thousands of Paulestinians can raise millions and rent blimps, think what millions of real conservatives can do!!

[shield]

NO...she is following Ronald Reagan’s playbook.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Happy Tuesday morning to you! Here’s a little present:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y1SUscY2Fg

[Jeff Head]

Let them be baffled.

What is definitely NOT baffling is her popularity and the crowds she draws...wherever she goes.

When you look at the crowds she drew (20K-30K a pop) as a vp candidate in 2008. When you look at the profound impact she had on the 2010 elections, when you look at the people who turn out now, wherever she goes when she is not even an announced candidate...well, the libs, MSM, left, socialists, and RINOs are in for a surprise in 2012.

Click on the link below and scroll down to see those crowds from 2008.

I believe she will double and treble those numbers in 2012 as a presidential candidate.

I believe she is going to announce on 9/3. I welcome her into the race and will work as hard as I can to help her win. Watch her numbers go through the roof...to the astonishment and baffling of the pundits.

I believe she will take on and defeat the other GOP candidates, and then believe that she will mop the floor with Obama.

SARAH IN 2012 - FOR AMERICA, FOR LIBERTY!

If you so desire, you can get the bumper sticker here

[LibLieSlayer]

Funny... another huckster and pawlenty worker said just the opposite yesterday... praised her efforts and those of her ground game... warned the elite to not underestimate her... rove paid attention... rove’s fax must have gone out... this is nothing more than a progressive turd swimming in a Conservative punch bowl.

LLS