I could very easily see a scenario where the last few GOP primaries come down to Palin and Daniels. I may look back on that prediction 12 months from now and feel stupid, but it’s a scenario I can see. The reason? Much of what’s negative about her prospects is positive about his and vice versa.
At the moment, Trump is eating up her base. Whether or not he can keep them depends on a number of things, but I think the longer he stays engaged and she plays coy about her plans, I think the less people come back to her. Head-to-head, I think Trump eats her alive: he's as much a showman as she is, and he's a more compelling speaker who can formulate detailed arguments well (as Palin does not). But I don't think either of them gets out of the weeds when primary time rolls around, because their base is too small.
In a similar manner, I think Daniels probably eats up Romney's base, and on their points of direct comparison (including health care) I think Daniels probably comes out ahead. I think Daniels ends up getting the early support of the big-money and big-power GOP, much as GW Bush did in 2000.
I also think Daniels ends up drawing less partisan Republicans to the primaries -- those folks who are alarmed and dismayed by the prospect of a Palin or Trump nomination. "Tea Party" support ends up being offset by a more moderate set of primary voters.
Daniels has the current advantage of being the guy who's most aligned with the debate of the moment, which is the budget. I think that carries on for a while, but won't carry on into next year unless Obama makes it an issue.
Palin Daniels would be a powerful ticket.
Cajones, and the brains behind them to get the job done.