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The Pew poll today that was headlined "Obama Leadership Image Takes a Hit, GOP Ratings Decline," contained some interesting bits of data on the 2012 GOP field.
One bit in particular jumped out: forty-one percent of Republican voters said there was "no chance" they would vote for Sarah Palin. A day after Karl Rove said Palin needs to get thicker skin when people speculate about her presidential ambitions, Palin came in second to last behind Newt Gingrich on this question. By comparison, only 17% said there was no chance they'd vote for Perry, and 21% said the same of Perry.
Sarah Palin's day seems to have passed. These results come after the "Undefeated" film this summer and her recent Iowa video, both of which seemed aimed to hype her profile in advance of a possible announcement. That's not to say she can't recover some of the mojo that marked her public persona earlier this year, but her recent efforts seem to energize only those who've already made up their minds that they'll support her come hell or high water.
"There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood...."
She was Governor of Alaska, and she quit! Abandoned the people who voted for her, let down her state -- lost her geographical anchor with all its rich pioneer symbolism, lost her power base -- for what? Broke my heart when she did it, but she has effectively passed the torch to Michele Bachmann now.
Sarah Palin will have to be elected to something now to build up a record in office. She was building one and she quit, and you just can't do that.
Posted by: Dawn Carpenter | August 26, 2011 at 10:52 AM