I'll ask you a question in return: Have you ever heard of a business tycoon being undercut by underlings? (coughcoughSteveJobscoughcoughLeeIacoccacoughcough)
Sure. But we aren’t talking about CEO of LAZ Lemonade Stand Inc. This is the Big chair. Pres of the US/Leader of the Free World.
NO ONE would let anyone but Ninja level, to the death allies into ANY position that could gut them and scuttle their chances.
They excluded Palin for speech verbage. Imagine the benefit she could have had. But that was not part of his Bach level orchistrated plan. He took the loss to keep on script.
Now if he is willing to willingly sacrifice her open support, I’d say his ship is pretty tight and his plan on course.
Nope. There are no ‘accidents’ at this level of play.