Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

How Palin Can Make a Comeback

Get ready for moose burgers in the White House

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 13, 2009 1:41 AM CST

(Newser) – Sarah Palin is despised by Democrats and distrusted by independents, but that doesn't mean they won't be "serving up moose burgers in the White House" by 2013, writes Matthew Continetti. Palin won the Alaska governorship in 2006 on a center-right, bipartisan platform. Using that playbook again and learning from Ronald Reagan will put her political career back on track, Continetti argues in the Wall Street Journal.

Reagan was painted as a dim-witted warmonger but won easily in 1980 after the public saw him debate the "self-important, humorless liberal" Jimmy Carter, writes Continetti. What Palin needs to do is deflect any talk of her personal life or past mistakes and start hammering home the message that the Obama agenda will hurt the middle classes, he notes. "Oprah will be aghast. The Democrats will be outraged. But independents will be listening," Continetti writes. "And the rehabilitation of Sarah Palin will have begun."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Sarah Palin claps at the end of her speech at a campaign stop at the airport in Colorado Springs, Colo., last year. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Sarah Palin, speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign stop last year in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

She needs to adopt a market-friendly populist agenda to strengthen her policy credentials and make her seem less partisan to independent voters. - Matthew Continetti

Every time the media try to shift the conversation to personal gossip or past mistakes, Ms. Palin should pull it right back to how the Obama agenda will hurt the middle class. - Matthew Continetti

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Palin Leads GOP Prez Poll

Just 43% believe Obama deserves second term

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin can win the Republican nomination for 2012—but she can't win the presidency, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll . The nationwide poll found that Palin—who recently told Barbara Walters she could defeat President Obama —would narrowly win a primary involving the current most-likely GOP front-runners, but would be defeated by President Obama 48% to 40% in a general election, despite the fact that only 43% of voters believe Obama deserves a second term. More»

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

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

(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?” More»

Santorum: Mitt Romney Bought CPAC

'I don't try to rig straw polls,' says candidate

(NEWSER) - Fresh off his loss to Mitt Romney at CPAC , Rick Santorum hit the talk shows this morning, and he's downplaying the victory, reports Politico : "You have to talk to the Romney campaign and how many tickets they bought—we've heard all sorts of things," Santorum told CNN. "Ron Paul has won those (straw polls) because he trucks in a lot of people, pays for their ticket, and they come in and vote. I don't try to rig straw polls." Elsewhere on the Sunday dial, as per Politico : More»

Palin: GOP Needs an 'Instinctive' Conservative

Hints at Romney problems, saying too late to 'spin it'

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin topped off the Conservative Political Action Conference last night with a rousing speech, avoiding endorsing any candidate, but certainly hinting at Mitt Romney's weaknesses, reports the Wall Street Journal . Palin said that Republicans need a conservative whose beliefs are "instinctive," not someone molded by spin doctors and Washington consultants. "It's too late in the game to teach it or spin it at this point," said Palin, without actually mentioning Romney by name. "It's either there or it isn't." More»

Negative Attacks Souring Colorado Voters on GOP

'Anybody but Obama' not enough for crucial independents in swing states

(NEWSER) - The bruising, highly negative Republican presidential nomination fight appears to be creating a new casualty as the race moves into swing states like Colorado—independent voters, reports the Los Angeles Times . President Obama may have disappointed many voters over the past three years, but the GOP candidates' continuing bashing of each other is turning off a lot of voters even more. Independent voters "want to vote for a Republican, but they've got to like the one we nominate," said a former GOP state chairman. "It's not 'anybody but Obama.'" Independent voters are the dominant political force in Colorado—and other swing states—and appear to be warming to Obama. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

How Palin Can Make a Comeback