Coop's Corner
November 16, 2009 7:06 PM

The Palin Conundrum For Miffed Romney

By
Charles Cooper
Topics
In The News
(AP)
After the New England Patriots disasterous decision Sunday night not to punt on fourth down with the ball on the Indianapolis Colts' 28-yard line, former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, had every right to be ticked off. Especially considering that the Pats had the lead with little more than 2 minutes left in the game. Is it possible that the team's supposedly brilliant coach, Bill Belichick, got confused and thought the Manning brother waiting patiently on the opposing sidelines was Eli and not Peyton? Whatever the case, the Colts went on to win the game with 13 seconds left in the game.

But that fit of pique can't compare with the frustration Romney must feel watching the "All Sarah, all the time" frenzy in advance of the official launch date of Going Rogue, Sarah Palin's tell-all account of the 2008 presidential campaign. On paper, it should be a no-brainer. Here's Romney, with that ponderously impressive resume - CEO of the management consultancy Bain & Company, co-founder of private equity investment firm Bain Capital, CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics and governor of the Bay State from 2003 to 2007 - and yet he can't get the time of day. Maybe that will change by next year, but for the moment, north to south, east to west, the Republican faithful only have eyes for the Thriller from Wasilla.

Which is all the more fascinating because a bevy of new polls suggest that Palin's guaranteed to lose if she becomes the Republican Party's nominee in 2012. A CBS poll found that just 23% of Americans now hold a favorable view of the former Alaska Governor and two in three Americans would not like to see Palin run for president against Barack Obama. According to a CNN survey, fewer than three in 10 Americans believe that she's qualified to serve as president. And an ABC/Washington Post poll found that six in 10 Americans say she's unqualified for the post.

Polls, schmolls. Who can deny Palin's electric effect on the conservative wing of the GOP? Forty percent of Republican voters say they have a very favorable opinion of Palin, according to a Rasmussen survey and 59% believe that Palin shares their values. At the same time, there's that special `X' factor to consider. My (entirely unscientific) suspicion is that a good number of these folks who adore Palin delight how she drives liberals batty. Even better, from their perspective, Palin thoroughly enjoys pulling the left's chain, which only enrages them further. The first time she starts winking into the camera, there's a good chance Chris Matthews' head will explode. No such partisan passions would ever attend a Romney candidacy or presidential runs either by Tim Pawlenty or Mike Huckabee.

More Coverage of Sarah Palin's Book:

Exclusive: Palin Accounts Disputed by McCain Aides
Palin Contradicts Her Own Version Of Events With Oprah
Democrats Give Mixed Reactions to Sarah Palin Buzz
Sarah Palin: I Was "Annoyed" by Katie Couric's Newspaper Question
Bob Schieffer on Palin: No Future in Politics
Palin Book Roils Former McCain Aides
Palin "Vindictiveness" in Her New Book?
Palin Publicity Blitz Full Speed Ahead

That doesn't mean Palin could beat Obama in the general election but the true believers, sick of big government and nonstop bailouts, would work night and day for a candidate who speaks their language. Writing about the particular math of the party primaries, Walter Shapiro explains that if Palin is able to maintain roughly 35-percent support, the Republican establishment, while agreeing that a Palin candidacy would lead to an electoral disaster, may not be able to derail her momentum. If she survives the South Carolina primary "with her aura intact – she could theoretically sweep the winner-take-all states without ever winning a majority anywhere," according to Shapiro. That prospect must leave a miffed Romney wondering what he has to do to get a serious hearing.

Long before Iowa and New Hampshire, maybe he'd be better off going rogue as well.


  • Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

Add a Comment See all 16 Comments
by todd_i-2009 November 18, 2009 11:35 AM EST
The attention on Palin is the best thing that could happen to Romney. We are two years (+) early for the 2012 run. Anything said by a candidate at this point can't help them and will likely hurt them. If a good comment is said it will be forgotten. If a bad comment is said it will be replayed. A harsh critic of the President at this point looks petty and deconstructive?so a serious candidate will say as little as possible.

On the other hand, Palin is opening herself up to current and future ridicule by: quitting her job early (making it difficult to claim experience), making numerous media appearances (adding fodder to the sound-bite pool), and fighting publicly with a 19 year old (exposing her stunted maturity and proving the ?beauty queen? thing).

No, Mr. Romney has nothing to worry about here. Palin will take care of herself.
Reply to this comment
by jxknowles November 17, 2009 2:04 PM EST
By the time the election rolls around, calmer heads will prevail and the GOP will have a viable candidate. Palin is making money. She is never going to hold another public office.

When you hear David Gregory or Chris Matthews say Palin is interesting or a political force, you have wonder about credibility. Their political commentary is laughable. If David or Chris think Palin is interesting, they need to get out more.

Political discussionists know less about what Americans really think than they do about the origins of the universe.
Reply to this comment
by sddrepublican November 17, 2009 10:39 AM EST
Like Sarah Palin or not she is going to be a driving force for the republican party. She may not have any experience, however neither did Mr. Obama and look how well that turned out. I think her book deals with some things that went on behind the scenes with the McCain campaign and the ones that are protesting their innocence are the ones with the most to hide and lose. If nothing in the book is true, why does McCain feel he needs to dispute those claims. I like Sarah Palin and I think that there are plenty of other people out there too that like her only they don't want to admit it.
Reply to this comment
by whatithink-2009 November 19, 2009 2:55 AM EST
Palin has quit her job in the middle of her commitment...doesn't anything matter to people anymore? She has experience...as a quitter. If she can't handle Alaska, why are you trying to push her onto the rest of us? Obama hasn't quit anything, no matter how much you sling mud at him.
by dragon8me November 17, 2009 9:27 AM EST
Religious fanatics like to ban things. Hence, prohibition. I would rather elect a scientist, at least they use their head for something besides a hat rack.
Reply to this comment
by Mortarman-29 November 17, 2009 11:44 AM EST
What happened to liberals banning guns?
by watervliet November 17, 2009 9:11 AM EST
I USED TO LOVED ROMNEY BUT BEING A CHRISTIAN HE DOESN'T ACT LIKE ONE. SARAH PALIN AND ROMNEY ARE ALL THE SAME. A BIG JOKE!!!!
Reply to this comment
by dragon8me November 17, 2009 8:54 AM EST
That picture, is a face begging to be b---- slapped.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968-17 November 17, 2009 8:35 AM EST
by love2ridend November 17, 2009 8:28 AM EST
Hmm got a question was unemployment at 10 percent under the republican or the democrats administration?






What caused the unemployment to reach 10%?

Do you realistically want to try and blame the economic policies of Obama, for the implosion of our economy, that started with all of the bad practices in 2002?

Silly child.
Reply to this comment
by uisignorant November 17, 2009 11:10 AM EST
NO, I blame it on the DEM House and Senate.
by hungry1968-17 November 17, 2009 7:49 AM EST
Sarah Palin: The gift of a lifetime for Barack Obama and the democrats.
Reply to this comment
by love2ridend November 17, 2009 8:28 AM EST
Hmm got a question was unemployment at 10 percent under the republican or the democrats administration?
by rwassel November 17, 2009 10:40 AM EST
love2ridend - That's some pretty poor logic, considering the economy collapsed under a Republican administration. Any economist will tell you that jobs are the last to go, and will be the last to get better.

By your logic, 9/11 must have been Bush's fault. It happened on his watch, although when it comes to that, people on the right sure do love to blame Clinton and what they perceive as a laxing of national security under his administration.

Sorry, can't have it both ways.
by hungry1968-17 November 17, 2009 7:28 AM EST
Hey Mitt: Your five sons couldn't go into the military to help fight terrorism, even though they are ALL perfect for the military (hetero, at least 18, etc), because they were too busy helping you run for president, according to you anyway.

How many of them enlisted after you ended your campaign?
Reply to this comment
by thebob-bob November 17, 2009 1:25 AM EST
Romney needs to give it up. He's never going to be President. The Evangelical Republican base will never get excited about a Mormon for president. Golden tablets? Magic glasses? Undergarments? They extreme rightwing nutjobs may believe all kinds of looney stuff but that's too weird, even for them.

Nope, they love the Tonya Harding of Politics.
Reply to this comment
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