As of last week, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Tim Pawlenty were the only announced Republican candidates for President. This week, Mitt Romney is expected to join the fray. But one additional, yet familiar name may also be ready to announce.
Sarah Palin, the former vice-presidential nominee, AKA the butt of jokes of all in late night television, seems to be making moves toward a possible run. She recently purchased a home in Arizona (expectantly to make a run from the backyard of John McCain versus her current home in Wasilla, Alaska), and has set up an exploratory committee to gauge her chances. Palin also sees her relevance slipping away in the public opinion, so throwing her hat into the ring could be just the attention grabber she needs. “I think my problem is that I do have the fire in my belly,” Palin said in a recent interview on Fox. “I’m so adamantly supportive of the good traditional things about America and our free enterprise system and I want to make sure that America is put back on the right track and we only do that by defeating Obama in 2012.” But is Sarah Palin the answer the GOP has been looking for?
So far, many in the GOP’s highest ranks are underwhelmed with the current crop of candidates, believing that none have the gravitas to beat President Obama. But, although Palin could shake up the race and make it more “entertaining,” her presence could actually be that of a spoiler. Her base is the Tea Party, but so is Herman Cain’s. And if Michelle Bachmann enters the race as well, the Tea Party could cause a split within the GOP, possibly ending with a nomination of an unwanted candidate — which could be Palin. And while the GOP is having nightmares of a Sarah Palin vs. Barack Obama matchup, the White House is licking their chops at the possibility. Of course, the media is also considering the fun they would have with a Palin candidacy. Remember the Katie Couric interview that exposed Palin as knowing — well — practically nothing?
This should be an interesting week for the GOP and its presidential hopes. Mitt Romney seems like the better candidate, but his former health plan while governor of Massachusetts is much too similar to that of President Obama’s, which would completely remove health care as a primary campaign issue. Romney is also Morman, which has never set well with the Christian-right base of the party. Then there’s Newt Gingrich, whose slimy marital history is in complete opposition with the family values theme of the party. Ron Paul is more of a novelty than a bankable candidate, while Herman Cain is a complete unknown who admitted on FOX that his own plan for the country will not work.
Is Sarah Palin exactly what the GOP has been waiting for? Or is it virtually safe for President Obama to start planning state dinners for his 2nd term?
Quote of the Day"A CNN poll out Friday has Giuliani leading among likely or possible Republican contenders. Just like Donald Trump, it's an indication that Republican primary voters want anyone but Romney AND Palin. How can the most recent VP nominee have so little support is the question that should be asked. Compare Palin and Romney to Clinton and Obama. Their support wasn't transferable to other candidates. Staunch Obama and Clinton supporters of course would vote for the eventual nominee but their support among their core supporters in the primaries was bedrock. Where is that kind of support for Palin? Her so-called loyal supporters have shown to be willing to dump her for Trump, Herman Cain, Huckabee and now Giuliani. These Tea Party folks are not devoted to Palin; they are devoted to hatred and defeat of Obama. Please stop comparing Palin now to Obama in 2007. Voters didn't know Obama, but… Read more »