E-Mail Reveals Rift between Palin and Joe Miller?

AP Photo

(Updated below with comment from Todd Palin)

Joe Miller's victory over incumbent Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's Republican Senate primary was at least partly credited to former Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement of the tea party favorite. But Miller may now find himself on the outs with Mama Grizzly's camp.

Alaska politics blog The Mudflats released an angry email purportedly sent from Palin's husband, Todd, to Miller after the candidate declined to fully endorse Palin's presidential qualifications.

During a Sept. 19 appearance on Fox News Sunday with Neil Cavuto, Miller was asked whether Palin was qualified to be president. His response was less than enthusiastic, saying that there were "a number of great candidates out there."

That apparently didn't sit well with husband Todd, who apparently sent a testy e-mail hours later to Miller, Tim Crawford, the treasurer of SarahPAC, and Thomas Van Flein, the personal attorney for both the Palins and Miller:

CBS News political analyst and Republican strategist Dan Bartlett said that while he can feel for Todd Palin's frustration, "the reason [Miller] is having trouble with this is the same problem a lot of Americanss are having - they can't answer that question why potentially she's qualified to be president of the United States.

"In my observations watching during the previous presidential campaign ... Sarah Palin and her camp are extremely thin-skinned and if she does plan to run for president, she's going to have to get used to people like this doing things they don't appreciate."

Updated at 2:07 p.m. ET

Todd Palin released a statement to the Weekly Standard, downplaying reports of friction and chastising the mainstream media for posting the leaked e-mail:

My family has worked hard in supporting Joe Miller, so when I heard he'd said something less than supportive of my wife's efforts, I responded. But it turns out we'd gotten our wires crossed and Joe hadn't said anything like what I'd been told. So there's no story here except the fact that the press put our personal emails online again, and again couldn't even be bothered to conceal our email addresses or take any steps to protect our privacy.

We don't know who leaked the email. In 2008, by way of background, Sarah Palin's personal email account was hacked by the son of a Democratic lawmaker in Tennessee. The hacker was found guilty on two counts of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer last spring. He awaits sentencing.

[neicie13]

The singular most frightening issue Sarah Failin Palin has(besides her incredibly stupidity)is the fact that TODD would be President...hope that you rethuglican teatards wake up to this.

[Amusedbyitall]

To Hillcoguy: Wasn't Ronald Regan the first president to use a teleprompter?

[mgeg1]

Those Palins sure are educated. Anyone notice the interesting and creative use of punctuation in that email? The Palins are trailblazers for reforming the English language

[Amusedbyitall]

You uppity people with your educations. This is why Sarah and her allies want to get rid of the Department of Education.

[jsilver2th]

Official Notice from "Anti-Sarah Palin" Bloggers Union: According to national trending index by Liberal Media Conspiracy headquarters in Hollywood, Ca. Christine O'Donnell effect nationwide ripple effect will completely overwhelm GOP by election day, therefore, All "anti-Sarah Palin" bloggers are hereby given a vacation through the election- we could never come up with anything this great- be back on the job for 2012 however-

[run2jazz2]

Honesty I cannot believe that anyone is considering these two for any public office? When they both open their mouth it is like the teacher on the Peanuts (Wawawawa waswas wawas wa). I know that the rest of the world has got to be laughing at Americans in how we are supposed to be a "World" leader and we got every right wing, Satanist, self-centered clown calling for change on the ballot in these states.

[dibbs977]

Sarah and Todd Palin seem so classless and uneducated. America as a whole looks stupid in the eyes of the world when we give credence to such awful people.

[bassinapple]

Once again we see CBS has on problem publishing a personal email. How corrupt. This is why they are in last place.

[merlgrey]

yes joe, imagine yourself in sarah's six inch naughty red monkey pumps for a day.

[DrSmithNJ1]

To Hillcoguy: You are actually saying that the use of a teleprompter signifies that someone is dumb? GW used one and STILL couldn't read correctly. You are just a bigot that hates the fact that we have an African-American President. Your hatred comes through loud and clear.

[jsilver2th]

ha ha