I’m a big Palin fan, but her role in O’Donnell’s win has been vastly overstated. She endorsed her either the Thursday or Friday before the primary. COD was already ahead in some polls, and already had tons of momentum. She likely would have won without Palin’s endorsement, or Demint’s.
Palin in a sense was forced into endorsing her. After supporting other Tea Party folks like Paul and Miller, and after her whole Mama Grizzly thing and supporting other women, how could she not endorse a Tea Party backed woman? She would have looked pretty bad. Also, she probably sensed that COD was going to win so she got on board knowing she’d likely reap some benefits.
The reason the media gave it so much play is that they think Palin is toxic and that any coverage of her helps the dems and Obama. So they highlighted O’Donnell-Palin connection in the hopes that voters nationwide would say O’Donnell=Palin=Tea Party=GOP=Boehner=GOP Congress. They think if they can make Palin out to be the face of the GOP, they’ll win this year and in 2012. They’ve tried with so many others(Rush, Beck, Cheney, W, Boehner, etc...) She’s all they have left.
Regardless of what happens in DE, it clearly hasn’t worked.
I think the reason there were some last minute endorsements by Palin was simply to prevent any counter attack ads.
Interesting analysis. Thanks.