by Mark Silva
The chief strategist of Sen. John McCain's failed campaign for president has this to say of the notion that McCain running mate Sarah Palin might run for president in 2012:
"Catastrophic.''
Now, there was a certain division of camps within the McCain-Palin campaign for the White House in 2008, particularly as it started a downhill slide in the closing months. There were those who viewed Palin, then-governor of Alaska and new to the national scene then, as a "rogue'' who wouldn't heed professional advice.
Palin has taken that as a badge of honor, with a forthcoming memoir entitled Going Rogue which has rocketed to the top of online lists in advance of its Nov. 17 release -- the cover, released by HarperCollins via AP, is pictured here. Palin has recruited a conservative Christian writer to help her turn out the 400-page book months ahead of schedule.
And Steve Schmidt, McCain's man and a longtime GOP strategist, allows that he was part of the "anti-rogue'' crowd.
Nevertheless, in an address to that "First Draft of History'' conference at which Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, another McCain ally and close friend, called FOX's Glenn Beck "cynical'' and the "birthers'' who say that President Barack Obama wasn't born in Hawaii "crazy,'' Schmidt has spelled out his concerns about a Palin candidacy.
"I think that she has talent," Schmidt said, as reported by the Huffington Post's Sam Stein, "but my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican Party in 2012.
""She is someone who has a passionate base that passionate base constitutes millions of Americans," Schmidt said of Palin. "But in the year since the election has ended, she has done nothing to expand her appeal beyond that base into the middle of the electorate where elections are decided..''
Palin is popular, he allows: "Just look at her pre-sales numbers," he said of her book. And he added that it was not "inconceivable that she could be Republican nominee for president of the United States." But, he said, it would be "fairly inconceivable" that she could win the White House.
(We've also suggested that Palin's strategy lately points to a potential third-party campaign for the White House independent of the Republican Party.)
"In fact, were she to be the nominee,'' McCain's man in 2008 said of McCain's running mate at the top of a ticket in 2012, "we could have a catastrophic election."
Comments
Gee, who could imagine that a McCain campaign advisor would "dis" Palin?
The situation is this: Palin could hardly be a worse candidate than was McCain...even I held my nose and crossed my fingers when I voted for him.
Posted by: Hazmat77 | October 2, 2009 10:46 AM
Steve Schmidt suffers virtually zero credibility. Schmidt displays behavior of a jealous and vindictive child spreading school yard bully gossip. His handling of internal affairs of the McCain presidential campaign reflect Schmidt is not the brightest color in the crayon box.
Steve Schmidt, long back I dismissed him as a blowhard rumor mongerer. He is an ignorant git.
Down in Arizona a grassroots effort is moving forward to have McCain voted out of office for his being a "Republican In Name Only" (RINO) much like Mark Kirk over in Illinois is suffering serious setbacks for his being a RINO.
Schmidt, McCain, Kirk, those boys remind me of the Three Stooges; right funny boys.
Sarah Palin is extremely popular, enjoys a large number of dedicated supporters, is expanding her base of power and is emerging as a true and sincere Republican. In comparison to both McCain and Kirk, darling Sarah would whip both their butts easily during any election.
Rather ironic, the more Schmidt and other failed campaign types rag on Palin, the more our mainstream media rags on Palin, the more popular and powerful she becomes.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
Puma Politics
Posted by: Okpulot Taha | October 2, 2009 11:24 AM
I for one would love it if she were the Republican candidate in 2012. Another landslide for us....The Dem's!
If her "fans" would take a moment and quit gawking, they would see her for what she really is. If I need to give you the answer.....a selfish, self serving narcissist who is ill read and knows nothing about politics or government. Only in America would we even be talking about this kind of nonsense!
Posted by: Lori Brucato | October 2, 2009 11:50 AM
Catastrophic?? REALLY?!?! Who could've imagined it? But, but...Palin's such a strong, vital, upstanding smart lady, and such a fine example of good old Republican values! I just can't believe such a hateful, vile, venomous, demeaning, sexist comment! And coming from a REPUBLICAN! Et TU, Schmidt? Et tu??
Why--she has more decency and more righteousness in her little finger than all us liberals put together! SURELY this can't be so. Please, PLEASE let her run so that all the "real Americans" can find their Lord and Savior in her common-sense, well-informed, honest, intelligent approach to government!
Palin would certainly whoop all of us poor cowering liberals if she were the Republican candidate, no question about it. I'm all a-shiver just THINKING about it. She'd show US who's boss, oh ya betcha by golly crow jeezum!
Posted by: Op109 | October 2, 2009 12:24 PM
Would this be the same Steve Schmidt who failed to run a successful campaign against a candidate with NO EXPERIENCE and RADICAL CLOSE FRIENDS and a HORRIBLE VOTING RECORD!
The key to running a successful GOP campaign is to run a truly conservative candidate. The Dems can keep the RINOs.
Posted by: Chris | October 2, 2009 12:49 PM
Palin actually believes in our constitutional republic and the rights of US citizens. People understand this and trust her. While detractors waste time criticizing her family, wardrobe, lack of Ivy League degree, and filing spurious ethics complaints, they don't have much success opposing her positions on meritorious grounds. Because they can't. Additionally, she is not afraid to call out wrongdoing, regardless of party. This last part is what puts her detractors knickers in a twist. Imagine: a President who does not roll over and play dead, who persists in doing what is right, and fights corruption successfully. Think of all of the crooked folks in DC sweating profusely at the thought of her whistle-blowing on their rape of the citizens hard-earned dollars! Can't wait to see it happen.
Posted by: FreeStateYank | October 2, 2009 1:26 PM
The above comments are absolutely crazy! To give this woman one ounce of credibility is ludicrous! I really don't care what party affiliation you are....this woman is dangerous. Yes, she looks pretty and is well kept but it is all fake! She is only looking out for #1 - herself. No one else. She is a pure opportunist. Her judgements and actions prove this! She quit before her term was up in order to make money from her book deal. She didn't quit to right the wrongs of our political system, she quit for money. She knows nothing about politics, economics or world issues. There is no debating this. Ms. Palin proved this numerous times during interviews and rallies. She is not someone I would EVER want to see run for anything again....except for the hills! I find this whole fascination and debate about Ms. Palin rather ridiculous to say the least. She doesn't matter and never will. The Republicans can certainly come up with someone more sincere, intelligent and honest. Or maybe not if they are pinning their 2012 hopes on her. It is a very sad day indeed if this is the case. Or to say it with more emotion....God help us all!
Posted by: Mad As Heck | October 2, 2009 2:15 PM
Palin does not know much about anything. She is the obvious in the lead for 2012, god help us.
Posted by: Paul | October 2, 2009 5:02 PM
Wake up Conservatives!! FACTS:She quit as a Mayor of Wasilla Alaska and left them holding a huge debt that they still cannot get out from under. Then she did it again.. She quit her job as the Gov of Alaska, when they got stuck with a huge Debt and could not get the Big Oil contracts and now Alaska needs a bail out. She is a quitter!! Point blank.. She got voted in because of the corrupted Politics in Alaska with the guy she beat.. She spent 16 months not doing her job and now she wants to be the President!! She didn't want the bail out left to her replacement who had to take the bail out.. Thanks Sarah for doing just what Bush did, break the bank and leave us holding he bag of bills...
Posted by: Thomas Castle | October 2, 2009 5:11 PM
Yo Mark, you gotta say she looks "hot" in that photo and to think no political advisor had to explain to her that the flag pin was an important symbol for Americans. She will kick butt on sales to the lefties and liberals so they can dish her. Now ain't that capitalism cool. When will you post the Obama vs Palin head to head poll? Keep up the fine reports on our gal as she is going to give ya'll fits as she grows on the folks when they compare her to what they have now in a Prez.
Posted by: bubba Porter | October 2, 2009 7:21 PM
Are you happy with, "THE CHANGE," we have gotten so far ?
Posted by: Jerry Engelen | October 2, 2009 10:50 PM
I must say, this is an ironic column considering what is happening today. This fair city
getting snubbed in the IOC, The commander in Afghanistan
getting a mere 25 minutes to present his case, for a critical situation. Unemployment rising to 9.8 % despite the stimulus. Now if there had been someone who had warned us of this turn of events. Oh yes, the object of your derision.
Posted by: ian cormac | October 3, 2009 12:43 AM
Bring her on in 2012...She will definately assure the Democrats a landslide win..Unbelievable in this economy that people will actually spend money on her book...She is so predictable you don't even have to buy it to imagine it's contents...Toilet papaer is cheaper...
Posted by: kaye c. | October 3, 2009 1:24 PM
Can we get on to something more interesting?
Posted by: irene | October 3, 2009 6:49 PM
She may not be as good looking as Barry Goldwater or Bob Dole, but she has their winning ways at the polls.
Go Sarahhhhh!!!!!!
Next, babe, start a web site and collect millions of small contributors.......
Good luck with that.
Posted by: ornery | October 3, 2009 11:21 PM
Palin is exactly the person needed in the White House for 2 terms. America will need her "take no prisoner" attitude to clean up the Chicago corruption that seems to have made a home there.
Besides, whomever the Left goes apoplectic over, you know is a winner. Progressives are terrified of Palin because she is the anti-McCain, whom they slobbered over.
Posted by: Kelly H. | October 4, 2009 12:10 PM
Frankly, I think Sarah Palin is not all that interested in being President. I think she's motivated by a desire to move the Country in the right direction and she can probably do that better staying outside the Beltway. She's already told people that she wants to support candidates who believe in the same ideals she holds, whether they are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, whatever. But guys like Schmidt can't think outside the box - let alone outside the Beltway. Which is why McCain lost.
Posted by: Nancy | October 7, 2009 11:53 PM
I cannot believe the people that actually want this woman as their president in 2012! She has done nothing...and I mean Nothing to earn such a position! To laugh and criticize Scientist for studying the fruit fly at an autism luncheon? Really funny Palin...but had you done your homework before opening your mouth you would have known that the fruit fly is part of the research into autism. There's to many incidents like this one to mention. Shes not a woman of character...she doesn't educate herself on important issues, even the basic of geographical ones!!!! We really need a patriot...A standUP person that remembers what a hand shake means...what following threw with your word means..Palins in it for the paparazzi politics and that only!
Posted by: BitchPolitics | October 8, 2009 1:47 AM