Evidence of Palin’s polarizing effects
If you want to know how polarizing a figure Sarah Palin is, look no farther than this Washington Times article about the soon-to-be ex-Alaska governor’s plans to stump for Republicans on the campaign trail:
Mrs. Palin did not name any candidates for whom she might campaign. Indeed, whether the polarizing Alaskan would be welcome on the campaign circuit is an open question. Republicans running in statewide races in Virginia and New Jersey – the only states with gubernatorial races in November – have offered only lukewarm responses when asked whether Mrs. Palin is welcome to campaign there.
“We don’t have any plans on having her in” to stump for gubernatorial hopeful Chris Christie, the Associated Press was told by New Jersey Republican Party Chairman Jay Webber late last week. “We’re busy working to get Chris Christie elected and telling people about the failed record of [Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat].”
But Texas Gov. Rick Perry has said he would welcome Mrs. Palin at his side in the tight primary fight he faces with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
via EXCLUSIVE: Palin plans to stay in politics – Washington Times.
So, a Texas governor who is duking it out with a fellow Republican in a primary welcomes Palin by his side; a Republican in Blue New Jersey is cool to the idea. I don’t think there can be any clearer example of Palin’s real possibilities at a national level. Unless she makes major changes to her image, moderate voters, the type who call themselves independents rather than Republicans when they’re unhappy with President Obama, will continue to see her as too right wing.
Interestingly, Palin also lines up with Newt Gingrich in agreeing that she would “back moderate to conservative Democrats in congressional districts and states where Republicans stand almost no chance of winning.” Which I’m sure makes liberal and progressive Democrats very happy to hear. When you’re running against a centrist Democrat, rolling some footage of Sarah Palin endorsing your candidate should help motivate your base to come out and vote on primary day, shouldn’t it?
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
“But Texas Gov. Rick Perry has said he would welcome Mrs. Palin at his side in the tight primary fight he faces with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.”
Idiots and secessionist like water seek their own level.
[...] In the 2009 general election season, it became clear that Sarah Palin was not a good campaigning buddy if you were in a blue or ‘purple’ state. We could see this attribute based on who went parading around with Alaska’s occasional governor – successful Republican governors like Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie of New Jersey avoided her like a germ. [...]