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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Sarah Palin visit to Iowa a clear sign she'll run for president in 2012

Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 10:17 PM

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Some months back I wrote that Sarah Palin was likely to be the Republican candidate for president in 2012 and a number of disparaging comments were posted.

But now the Guardian newspaper in London is leading with the news that Irish American Palin will headline a dinner in Iowa on Friday.

They say it is clear that this is her opening salvo in the race for the 2012 nomination.

Can't say I'm surprised.

The Guardian quotes Kathie Obradovich, political columnist at the Des Moines Register, who says Palin's visit is highly significant.

"Palin is aware that there are flames of speculation over whether she will run for president and coming to Iowa fans that into a wildfire."says Obradovich.

Strangely I haven't seen much commentary on this Iowa visit in the American media.

Political commentators always fight the last war, not the next one and they have dismissed Palin because she did not deliver ultimately for John McCain.

Sure, they see her as a Tea Party darling and a Fox News star but they don't really take her seriously as a presidential contender.

I think they are making a huge mistake.

The Iowa diner will solidify her bond with grassroots Iowans, who remember, vote in a caucus system, not a primary.

I can very easily see her winning Iowa and heading for New Hampshire like a runaway train.

Who will stop her? Mitt Romney who has never appealed to the grassroots? Newt Gingrich with his three marriages and decades old shtick?

The Guardian interviewed Marilea David, a hard core Republican,who might well have been speaking for most conservatives.

"I think she is great. She is the only person I am excited about just now,"

"She is fiscally conservative. She married her husband for love, not money. She does not have perfect kids, which is big for me. She has been totally vetted by the liberal media and they did not come up with anything other than she is a 'hick'."

There's a bit of the Susan Boyle phenomenon for women especially in Palin.

The more the mainstream mocks Susan the more her base is bonded to her, seeing in her struggle for recognition their own.

Palin is in a similar narrative.

Larry Sabato, director of the political centre at the University of Virginia says Palin will win Iowa if she runs but thinks she will be a poor general election candidate.

" You are looking at a landslide to the Democrats. There is no one the Democrats want more. Obama would expect to win, even if the economy was bad. She is popular among Republicans but in the country as a whole she is unpopular."

I think Larry has it wrong. If Palin prevails she will be a very powerful contender. And many women will be drawn to her, for the historic nature of her run alone.

Who said after Hillary Clinton failed that we'd never see a woman president.

President Palin has a nice ring to it.

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jimgordo1 | Sep 14, 2010, 05:26 PM EDT

Niall -- I hate to diaagree; but I agree with Larry Sabato. Sarah Palin is the worst thing to ever happen to the Republican Party. So, go ahead GOP. pUT sARAH ON THE BALLOT

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maloney | Sep 14, 2010, 02:39 PM EDT

The demo's in DC have control of house & senate. The repubs can't stop them. If they are having a problem it is with thier own incompetance. As for obummer he is understood only to well. He lied to the American people to get elected. If he had told the truth he not only would not have won, he would have been run out of the country. Health care for everyone would be a wonderful thing. obummercare was a lie, it will cost way more than the people were told & many things available now will be history in the future. Death panels are for real. He's out to do away with seniors as they are old & wise enough to see through the crap. obummers popularity drops more every day.

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RinehartS | Sep 14, 2010, 12:32 PM EDT

Unbelievable...and quite frightening to think about. Get this country back? Back from who, the idiot minority in Congress who refuse to let the majority rule? Obummer...that's a hoot, love when idiots have to make up silly nicknames for things they don't/can't/won't understand. The US is going to the crapper because it's "base" thinks trying to provide HEALTH CARE to everyone is a bad idea and electing another leader who can't or won't read is a good idea. No wonder the rest of the world thinks Americans are bumbling idiots. So glad we have a least one thoughtful person in D.C. Just hope he gets another four years.

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maireadinmelb | Sep 14, 2010, 05:37 AM EDT

President Palin??? Are you insane, do you want WWIII?

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galway2001 | Sep 13, 2010, 08:46 PM EDT

i hope she runs for president and i hope she win's we need to get this country back before we end up losing it forever, too many liberals are getting involved in the wrong things.they just dont have any brains because if they did they would'nt act the way they do

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maloney | Sep 13, 2010, 07:30 PM EDT

I would rather have an uneducated idiot as president than a traitor who is hell bent on the destruction of OL' GLORY. A 3rd world country will be a leap forward from the 5th world country obummer is leading us to.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 13, 2010, 07:22 PM EDT

If there is a God she will win the GOP nomination and Obama will laugh all the way to the White House for a second term

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IrishEddy | Sep 13, 2010, 07:00 PM EDT

President Palin would make the USA a 3rd world country. That if she could locate it.

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killowen | Sep 13, 2010, 05:30 PM EDT

her kind is going to solve our caribou problems

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FastEddy | Sep 13, 2010, 04:24 PM EDT

Patrick: This is it? This is the "clear sign"? She shows up in Iowa and that's the "sign"? This is like saying Al Gore is right about global worming when its colder than normal everywhere in Europe, Asia, N&S America ... "no bias here!" as clonmel24 just said ...

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clonmel21 | Sep 13, 2010, 03:06 PM EDT

Wow! no bias here!

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Niall O'Dowd | Sep 13, 2010, 02:36 PM EDT

Palin refers extensively to her irish Catholic roots in her autobiography

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maloney | Sep 13, 2010, 02:12 PM EDT

Her love of pulling a trigger & a big piece of polar bear haunch make her a much better candidate than obummer or hillary. Be careful of what you say about her, she can gut you in less than a minute. She'e my hero.

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Mairin67 | Sep 13, 2010, 01:44 PM EDT

Ugh! This woman is such a disgrace to Americans and women in general. I can't understand how on earth some people actually like her. By the way, she was knocked up when she got married so call it love if you want.....no more than calling her Irish.

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norinalundy | Sep 13, 2010, 01:01 PM EDT

OMG! I think "boomerbob" said it all. What a disgrace! The woman doesn't even know what newspapers she reads daily. Get a grip...if she would like some plague that should visit us, I will move to Europe.

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