WH smart in elevating Palin to the head of the republican pack of hopefuls

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Press Secretary Gibbs today in response to a question from the WH press: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/17/press-briefing-press-secretary-robert-gibbs-9172010


Q In the past, the President has been, I think it’s fair to say, dismissive of some of (Palin's) expertise in particular areas or perhaps her expertise in general. But there’s no doubt at this point that she is a very politically influential and powerful person that could -- the result of her endorsements could influence what you do from here from the White House, depending on the composition of the Congress. I’m wondering, given the fact that she is going to Iowa, given the fact there is going to be speculation about a possible run for President, does the President view her as a political threat?

MR. GIBBS: I will say this, Mike, I don’t think the President has up until this point or does currently spend a lot of time thinking about the political season of 2012. That’s -- I think we’d all admit we’re in the midst of the 2010 election season, but 2012 is a long way away. So I don’t think the President spends a lot of time thinking about this.

Look, I don’t think there is any doubt that she -- we saw this in 2008. She can rally a -- the very conservative elements of the Republican base. That was I think, as you mentioned, quite clear in her ability to impact who becomes the nominee in Delaware or in other places around the country. I don’t think that’s in any doubt. We saw her ability to draw quite big crowds. I don't doubt that the Republican Party fundraiser will be quite the recipient of that big crowd tonight. And she drew -- she’s always drawn big crowds back to 2008.

At some point, if she decides to become a contestant for President of the United States, there will be a whole series of questions that each has to go through and answer for the people of Iowa, the people of New Hampshire, and throughout this country.

I think it’s a healthy process to go through. I think -- I will say Iowa is a great place to start it. I think most of the people in here have probably been to more events than they can remember in a place like Iowa. You are -- you stand up there with a microphone and you call on caucus-goers and answer their questions, and you have to build support and a following very methodically. It takes a lot of time.

But I have no doubt that she is a formidable force in the Republican Party, and may well be, in all honesty, the most formidable force in the Republican Party right now.


Promoting Palin as the next republican nominee is a smart response to the political din about 2012 she's creating with her flurry of appearances. Right now Democrats need to give voters a target in November for their voting angst, and Palin and her tea-bagging crowd are providing just the right amount of crazy talk to motivate Democrats to the polls in opposition.

Just as the republican party regulars are torn between either opposing her and the other extreme interests surrounding their extreme party, or opportunistically embracing their crazy talk to gain the votes of their crazy following, Democrats should encourage the notion that the babble of the birthers and their ilk represent the totality of the republican argument.

The WH is on target.

[bluestateguy]

1. Being the frontrunner 17 months before the first primary is not a good place to be

Remember the "inevitable" Rudy Giuliani?