Interesting article from RCP about the possible endorsement from Sarah Palin and the effect it can have, especially in Iowa:
“Iowans spend a lot of time examining these candidates, and no Iowan is going to invest all of this time looking at the candidates and the issues and then let someone else make that decision for them,” said Cain’s Iowa consultant Steve Grubbs. “Having said that, there are certain endorsements that would certainly provide momentum.”
And Sarah’s would most certainly provide momentum. The article goes over the pro’s and con’s of each of the candidates and the author, Scott Conroy, believes it may be Newt:
…While Palin has characteristically kept her cards close to her chest, advisers suggest that the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee is likely to endorse before someone emerges as the inevitable nominee — and that Newt Gingrich appears to be best-positioned to secure her support.
“They speak very favorably of Newt and what they see as his credentials as compared to Perry and Romney,” one member of Palin’s inner circle said of the former Alaska governor and her husband, Todd, who has long served as her unofficial chief adviser.
Gingrich has been particularly effusive in expressing his admiration for Palin over the last few months, and she has returned the favor by heaping praise on the former House speaker.
“Newt Gingrich again, I think, did the best because he seems to be above a lot of the bickering that goes on,” Palin said on Fox News after a Republican debate in Las Vegas last month, adding that Gingrich would “clobber” President Obama in a general election debate.
It would be a strange endorsement but with the class of Republican candidates we have, he may very well be right.
He is “the establishment” which she rails against, rightly so, but compared to the other’s…what are her choices? If she endorses anyone it must be someone who can win. After going through the liberal media meat grinder Bachmann won’t get it. Cain may have had the lead to get her endorsement but his gaffes may be to much for her since we need someone who can clean the floor in any debate with “the won.”
Newt would, as Palin said, clobber Obama in any debate.
That is a important point.
So who does she have left? Romney or Newt.
Scott writes that Romney is fighting hard for her endorsement:
National front-runner Mitt Romney has praised Palin many times, and senior aides have effectively enforced an internal rule within the campaign: Speak no ill of Sarah Palin.
Behind the scenes, according to Palin aides, Romney has been among those who have most vigorously sought Palin’s endorsement, which could go a long way toward boosting his support with a largely skeptical conservative base.
But I don’t see it. If it came to that I believe she wouldn’t endorse anyone rather than endorse him.
So that leaves Newt.
Damn….where is our Reagan?
(Mr. PDS will comment in 3…2…1)
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