Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Steve Schmidt, John McCain's former chief campaign strategist, said today that if former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin were to be the Republican nominee, it would be "catastrophic" for the Republican Party.
"I think that she has talents, but my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican Party in 2012, and in fact, were she to be the nominee, we would have a catastrophic election result."
"In the year since the election has ended, she has done nothing to expand her appeal beyond the base ... The independent vote is going to be up for grabs in 2012. That middle of the electorate is going to be determinative of the outcome of the elections. I just don't see that if you look at the things she has done over the year... that she is going to expand that base in the middle."
Schmidt is the highest ranking former member of McCain's inner circle to openly criticize Palin. He has largely remained silent since the election, being one of the few McCain staff members privy to the entire vice presidential selection process. Partisan political allies have blamed Schmidt for unflattering leaks -- including the famous, unattributed quote that Palin had "gone rogue" in the final weeks of the campaign. Schmidt has denied being the source of the leaks, though he has acknowledged tensions with Palin during the campaign.
Palin is loved by some, but most people have very negative opinions about her, even Republicans. She's a quitter, she's a Media prostitute, she's dumb, she's got no experience (less than Obama, she's only worked a real job for about 4 years of her life), she's from Alaska so her home state is useless in gaining votes, she's got all kinds of scandals already, AND she's already fallen behind Huckabee in the Values Voters' minds.
CBS's poll (published July 13) indicated that 22% of all Americans and 33% of Republicans believe Palin has the ability to be an effective candidate. In contrast, 65% of all Americans and 51% of Republicans do not believe that Palin has the ability to be an effective candidate
In an ABC News - Washington Post poll (published on July 23), 40% of Americans had a "favorable opinion of Palin" while 53% "view her unfavorably."
When more than 50% believe you're unqualified or view you unfavorably, you have NO chance to win.
Remember, in 1996 Bob Dole (who I supported) seemed like he would be able to win because of Clinton's early blunders on Health Care, but we all know what happened in that election.
Palin is loved by some, but most people have very negative opinions about her, even Republicans. She's a quitter, she's a Media prostitute, she's dumb, she's got no experience (less than Obama, she's only worked a real job for about 4 years of her life), she's from Alaska so her home state is useless in gaining votes, she's got all kinds of scandals already, AND she's already fallen behind Huckabee in the Values Voters' minds.
CBS's poll (published July 13) indicated that 22% of all Americans and 33% of Republicans believe Palin has the ability to be an effective candidate. In contrast, 65% of all Americans and 51% of Republicans do not believe that Palin has the ability to be an effective candidate
In an ABC News - Washington Post poll (published on July 23), 40% of Americans had a "favorable opinion of Palin" while 53% "view her unfavorably."
When more than 50% believe you're unqualified or view you unfavorably, you have NO chance to win.
Remember, in 1996 Bob Dole (who I supported) seemed like he would be able to win because of Clinton's early blunders on Health Care, but we all know what happened in that election.
If she's the Republican Nominee, there's no chance the GOP will win the 2012 election. None.
An excellent assessment.
I might add as well, that's it is entirely likely (in my opinion anyway) that Palin really has no interest in running for President (or more to the point - of actually HOLDING the job (and all the work it entails)) - but would much rather concentrait on the role of pundit and traveling speaker. It pays MUCH better and still keeps her in the limelight - but does not subject her to either as much scrutiny or criticism as the role of President would/does.
I hope the Republicans convince themselves that she is the perfect candidate. She has the appeal and the flirty good looks to attract attention from the media. She should be nominated along with a VP from the highest levels of society to provide some class recognition for the very rich.
I hope the Republicans convince themselves that she is the perfect candidate. She has the appeal and the flirty good looks to attract attention from the media. She should be nominated along with a VP from the highest levels of society to provide some class recognition for the very rich.
I really like your take on the subject. Democrats should be shouting Sarah Palin's attributes to any Republican who will listen and hope like h*ll she is the candidate in 2012. From now on, every thread with Sarah Palin will get my unbridled entheusiasm, praising her grasp of foreign policy and her brilliance in determining the future course of America.
Sarah Palin will not be the Republican running for President against Obama in 2012.
I am willing to bet the farm on that.
The only scenario I see that happening is if the economy completely turns around by then and the other Republicans who would run don't want to be a " sacrificial lamb" , thus holding out til 2016.
My --" only scenario"--is unlikely to happen ( IMHO )
It will be interesting to see who the Republicans put up in 2012 ... I just hope it's not another RINO like McCain, running McCain is what really damaged the Republican Party ... it was little more then a Socialist pretending to be a Democrat (Obama) vs a Democrat pretending to be a Republican (McCain).
I too would like to see Palin run. Apparently her book Going Rogue is a pretty popular pre-order choice on Amazon.
Don't you think it's a little late to be worrying about Palin?
Shouldn't you be having dinner at the family table with your children?
Get off of Palin ... and get on with life. You idiots.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
