Say what?

In an article at The Hill on how the GOP is now taking its agenda from the grassroots (and finally being successful, despite the fact that the Democrats own everything inside the beltway), Reid Wilson says:

"Potential presidential contenders Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin and others may be exciting to some, but they have yet to accrue a widespread following."

Say what? Granted, 2012 is still more than two years away, and Sarah Palin hasn't even indicated whether she intends to contend for the position of Republican Party standard bearer. But her following is much more widespread than any of her potential rivals. She's closing in on 900,000 Facebook followers. No other serious GOP contender comes close. Romney has 72,000 and Huckabee 114,000.  

But that's just the internet. How about out there in the real world? We'll answer that question with another one of our own. What other Republican has well over 1,000 requests pending to make appearances, deliver speeches and campaign for Congressional candidates? Here's another. Could Romney or Huckabee get 60,000 to 70,000 people to turn out under the hot Florida sun in the quiet retirement community that is The Villages?

We don't think so. And during the 9/12 event in Wahington, we haven't received any reports of people carrying Huckabee or Romney signs. Sarah Palin is clearly the favorite of the grassroots.

- JP