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In 2012, GOP Goes With Heart (Palin) Over Head (Romney)

Who knows, maybe her star power will make her the next Reagan

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 20, 2009 7:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – No matter what kind of gains Republicans make in the midterm elections next year, it’s going to be tough to unseat President Obama—and that’s why the GOP is going to choose Sarah Palin, its heart’s preferred candidate, over Mitt Romney, its head’s favorite. Or as Matt Lewis puts it, “If you’re going to lose anyway, is it better to lose atop the horse you really want to ride?”

Republicans have often ended up with two kinds of choices in efforts to unseat Democratic incumbents, Lewis notes for Politics Daily. There’s the “whose-turn-is-it” nominee: Richard Nixon, Bob Dole, John McCain. Then there’s the sacrificial lamb, a la Barry Goldwater. But “Palin is the only potential candidate on the Republican side with star power,” Lewis explains. “It’s hard to quantify that trait, but Reagan had it”—and in 2012, the GOP might well bet on finding its next Reagan.

Mitt Romney, back, and Sarah Palin appear together at a John McCain rally, Aug. 31, 2008, in Missouri.
Mitt Romney, back, and Sarah Palin appear together at a John McCain rally, Aug. 31, 2008, in Missouri.   (Getty Images)
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If recent elections are any guide, the Republicans' heads will tell them to choose Mitt Romney. Their hearts whisper something else. Is "Sarah" the name of this siren song? - Matt Lewis

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 49 comments
bewilderbeast
Oct 22, 2009 2:26 AM CDT
Fondue you ARE on form today!
Rob
Oct 21, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
Wow, fondue, you really don't have much to do, do you?
GlennH
Oct 21, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
Boy, I hope this is true. Obama wouldn't even have to campaign.

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