A Sign Sarah Palin Isn’t Running For President?

Mike Allen reads the tea-leaves and notices this:

BIG SIGN SARAH PALIN ISN’T RUNNING: Neither she, nor anyone on her behalf, is courting top donors, early-state activists or experienced operatives – all of whom are getting locked down, day by day.

This does raise eyebrows. While Palin would undoubtedly have great success fundraising at the grassroots level, it would be hard to win the nomination without the support of the GOP’s big donors and bundle-ers. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t Barack Obama’s small-dollar contributions that were the biggest help in winning the nomination in 2008, it was the big money Democrats who rallied to his side once it became clear that he could give Hillary Clinton a run for her money.

Allen goes on to lay out what he sees as the likely GOP field for 2012:

1) Mitt Romney, 2) Tim Pawlenty, 3) Haley Barbour, 4) Jon Huntsman, 5) Newt Gingrich, 6) Rick Santorum.

First Read agrees, and my only response is……… that is one crappy field to choose from.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, US Politics, , , , , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Chad S says:

    You can cross off the last 3 from that list. Working for Obama disqualifies Huntsman(as much as I like him), Newt is running just to meet hot interns and Santorum is nostalgic for the Crusades. I don’t think that The Mormonator 5000, Pawlenty or Gov Jowls are good enough to beat Obama unless there’s a gay muslim sex tape of the President.

  2. Matt B says:

    Palin is running. But she’s not seriously running. Same thing with Newt (unless of course his ego is so big that he things he can overcome all of his negatives — it’s possible, I think you need to have that level of an ego to actually run for office).

    Basically, for these people to stay pundits, without ongoing TV programs, they need to run and constantly reestablish their respective bases. Otherwise the would drop onto the lower “Dick Morris” teer of commentators — and that requires a lot more work.

  3. Patrick T. McGuire says:

    She doesn’t need big money to run. All she needs to do is post something on her Facebook page (for free) and every blogger out there would spread the message (for free).

  4. Herb says:

    I don’t believe she was ever going to run, but unlike Chris Christie, she can’t come out and say it. Christie has a day job that’s not dependent on making gullible people think you’re running for president….

    Can’t say that about Mrs. Palin.

  5. Have A Nice G.A. says:

    Dang…

  6. Jack says:

    Or, she could just be showing the same level of (in)competence she has shown in her entire public career…

  7. CCredentials says:

    I hope she doesn’t run. She makes a much better pundit.

    I kind of feel in the dark a bit. I have been without cable for last few months.

    Is Jindal a good conservative? He seems pretty smart but doubt he could win.

  8. I don’t think she wants to be president. Whether she runs or not will depend on her calculation of whether it would help her media personality career.

  9. anjin-san says:

    > Is Jindal a good conservative? He seems pretty smart

    If he was smart, he would have avoided telling a pretty transparent lie during his first real national exposure.

  10. Wiley Stoner says:

    You might consider it crappy until you look at the competition. Let us examine the excellence in economics. I like Obama’s demostrated ability in world leadership. Some think his expanding the power of government is a good thing. Got to wonder how that sits with most Americans. So let us just take a quick glance at what the crappy candidates will have to use against the current office holder. Huge debt, high unemployment and gas and food prices at record highs. Gee, that looks like a wonder record to run on. Mataconis, did you actually go to school, or do you post this stuff to get progressive fops like most who infect your echo chamber to respond? Kind of like Pavlov’s dog Stormy, that was the dumbest response here today. You win. You get a date with either Mantis or Anjin.

  11. matt says:

    I was against Bush expanding the power and I’m just as against Obama and his expansions of power including his DOJ trying to prosecute whistle blowers from +8 years ago… It’s ridiculous.. Bush left the country in a terrible terrible position but at least he held back on prosecuting whistle blowers..

  12. Terrye says:

    I don’t think it is a crappy field, especially when you look at the other side.

    Daniels might have a chance as well.

  13. matt says:

    I’m extremely sure I saw you boasting about McCain’s imminent defeat of Obama some years ago…

  14. DEO says:

    If you pretend to run your speaking fees go up…$arah is about the money.

  15. matt says:

    I’m expecting her to give a half ass try and then when she burns blame the “lamestream media” for her loss..