Sarah can pick up what she needs to know. But what Jindal needs, can't be learned.
A lot may depend on the country's mood at the time. It shouldn't, but it will because the independents will swing with the wind. If the country is still in trouble (very likely!) the "swing voters" may prefer Jindal to Palin. Jindal is extremely bright with pretty broad experience. Sarah may be bright, but the independent's impression of her wasn't very good, fair or not.
Jindal has a chance to improve the impression he makes on independents, which we need to win. He may have come across as a bit dull tonight, but that's very easy to change. It's harder for Palin to change the negative impression that came from the Couric and Gibson interviews.
Jindal hasn't got it. I don't see him appealing to independents in numbers needed to win, at any time and we cannot afford to take the risk. 2012 is too important. We need a strong candidate with style, substance and gravitas and that's not Jindal.