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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 OPINION 
42

How Palin Can Get the 2012 Nod

Leave Alaska, grab a good staff, and be yourself

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(Newser) – Don’t write off Sarah Palin as the 2012 Republican nominee: Roger Simon says she’s got what it takes to get there, with a little fine-tuning. He offers her seven steps in Politico:

  • Leave Alaska behind. Don’t run for governor in 2010; instead, hang out in the Lower 48.
  • Gather a staff smarter than you are. People might laugh, but they laughed at Bush and Schwarzenegger—and they both won.

  • Choose a few issues and “stick to them.” You already talk about a few concerns, like the deficit, that are “good issues for Republican primary voters.”
  • Study hard—at least as hard as those who are interviewing you.
  • Believe in yourself: the GOP’s latest incarnation suits you.
  • Don’t change. The “warmth” and “passion,” coupled with the “you betchas,” have worked well.
  • Don’t fear failing—“there’s always 2016.”

A fan (not shown) asks former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, right, to sign a baseball before the New York Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, June 7, 2009.
A fan (not shown) asks former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, right, to sign a baseball before the New York Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York,...   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.
Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, with her husband Todd Palin, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.
Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, with her husband Todd Palin, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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42 comments
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Alexandria
Jun 16, 09 11:43 AM CDT
Just because she'd get a nod, doesn't mean she'd win. She's one of the biggest reasons (among countless others) why people didn't vote for McCain. Reply
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+14
IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Jun 16, 09 11:49 AM CDT
The election wasn't that skewed. And I would bet that McCain did as well as he did thanks to Palin. Guess we'll see. But if you ask me, the constant nonstop hatred directed toward her has some base in fear for 2012.
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-13
IN RESPONSE:
Alexandria
Jun 16, 09 11:51 AM CDT
Really? Because without her, I think McCain would've stood a better chance. She didn't know what she was talking about half the time, and then attacked a journalist for asking what magazines she read. And when she DID know what she was talking about, she'd get the facts wrong. No thanks.
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+14
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kokuaguy
Jun 16, 09 12:29 PM CDT
The "helped him or hurt him" debate is interesting-- I bet Mr. Silver had something to say about that.
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
JonmarkP
Jun 16, 09 12:30 PM CDT
Who the hell is Roger Simon, other than someone who knows less than zero about American politics? Even the Republican leadership knows Palin is the kiss of death.
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+6
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