'Palin Factor' Levels Race

And yes, there's a Sarah Palin character

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's 2008 campaign is the subject of Hope!, a musical set to premiere Jan. 17 in Frankfurt. The production features musical-theater versions of the major players: Michelle, Hillary—looking quite young—John McCain and even Sarah Palin, who sings a solo surrounded by scantily clad dancers. Writer and composer Randall Hutchins, who is American, tells Der Spiegel he got the idea for the production "right at the start of Obama's electoral campaign. I found the atmosphere exciting and that was my inspiration." More»

Obama's birth certificate is 'fair game' in prez race

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin supported "rightful" concerns by so-called birthers that President Obama was not really born in the US during a radio interview yesterday. Asked by conservative radio host Rusty Humphries if she would make Obama's birth certificate an issue if she ran for president in 2012 she responded: "I think the public, rightfully, is still making it an issue. I don't know if I would have to bother to make it an issue, because I think enough members of the electorate still want answers." More»

Voters think Hillary Clinton would be swell, though

(NEWSER) - With a blockbuster memoir and national tour, Sarah Palin is again grabbing headlines. But does she have what it takes for a 2012 presidential bid? The answer is a resounding “no,” according a CNN and Opinion Research poll. Only 28% believe she’s qualified for the nation’s top job, and 70% say she isn’t.

• Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is viewed as quite presidential: 67% of poll respondents say the secretary of state is fit to be president, while 32% disagree.

Provision in health care bill opened the door to end-of-life rationing: McCain

(NEWSER) - John McCain offered qualified support for Sarah Palin’s notorious “death panel” comment—defending, at least, the substance of his former running mate’s remarks in an interview with George Stephanapoulos for ABC News: “Look, I don't think they were called death panels, don't get me wrong,” McCain said. “There was a provision in the bill that talks about a board that would decide the most effective measures to provide health care for people.” More»

(NEWSER) - A majority of Americans believe Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska to further her own political career rather than to help her state. A CBS News poll found that 52% see personal ambition behind her decision, while 24% accept her explanation. Only 23% have a favorable view of the Republican, and about the same fraction thinks she would be an effective president. More»