More Quote of the Day Honorable Mention, Part 76

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"I can see 2012 from here" Edition...

Jim Putnam at The Coltons Point Times:

"The largest earthquake ever recorded within 30 miles of Washington, D.C. rattled the capital early Friday just as a Public Policy Poll was released showing Sarah Palin has now tied Obama for the first time in a head to head match up for 2012 with each receiving 46% of the vote... In yet another polling triumph [Gallup] Sarah Palin gave more reason for liberals to have a stress test as she was in first place among GOP candidates for President in her favorable rating at 76%, higher than those for Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Bobby Jindal. "

Don Surber at the Charleston Daily Mail:

"Palin stood beside Haley, the next governor of South Carolina, before she became governor. When the chips were down and Haley’s name was smeared, who came to her rescue? And South Carolina is the most important primary on the schedule in 2012."

Ben Smith at Politico:

"'I don’t see how she has anything to lose,' says Republican consultant Ed Rollins, who pointed to Palin’s strong relationship with her base and good prospects in Iowa and South Carolina, sites of a key GOP caucus and primary. By this logic, a campaign would only raise her already sky-high profile. At worst, she’d lose and be more or less back where she started: Kingmaker, media personality, best-selling author."

Allahpundit at Hot Air:

"It’s not the haul that’s so impressive... but rather what she’s doing with the money. What kind of ex-governor-turned-commentator spends several hundred thousand dollars developing a direct mailing list? One who’s keeping her options open... She’s got more than a cool mil of cash on hand, inspiring GOP consultant Ron Bonjean to say, 'All signs point to her running for president in 2012 with that kind of money.' She also spread a lot more money around among Republican candidates this quarter than last — a nine-fold increase..."

Andrew Malcolm at Top of the Ticket:

"Palin has been dismissed as a serious Republican candidate by numerous urban know-it-all's, who haven't noticed a new development in U.S. presidential politics: The last three consecutive presidents were all elected on their very first try."

Quin Hillyer at The American Spectator:

"As for the Republican nomination for president…. Well, I'm saying that Sarah Palin is far closer to being a prohibitive favorite for the nomination than most Washington hands yet understand."

StandByLiberty.com:

"Sarah Palin is now tied in a liberal-leaning poll with Obama. Isn’t that a kick in the butt for liberals. They may really get the worst case scenario come true, a conservative revival lead by their worst enemy Sarah Palin. I seem to recall liberals like Juan Williams saying Obama would wipe up the floor with Sarah, maybe Juan wants to get one of the 'socialist' mops to help clean up. Judging by this poll, Obama could use the help."

Mark Noonan at Blogs for Victory:

"This is a devastating poll for the man who won 53% of the vote less than two years ago. It is a long way to 2012, but its hard – very hard – for a President to recover lost popularity. Additionally, as the MSM continues to lose influence and the New Media becomes larger, the narratives developed by the MSM for people such as Sarah Palin will become weaker. It took relentless hounding to develop the memes, and that relentless hounding is going to fade away as time goes on..."

Steve Lombardo via Twitter:

"As we have been saying for a year...don't sell Palin short. Her path to the nomination is easier than you might suspect."

Tony Lee at American Thinker:

"The mainstream media often dismisses Palin's chances of winning the presidency, but doing so ignores her closeness to where then-Senator Obama stood entering the 2006 midterm elections. Her potential path to the White House would resemble the one Obama took. By any measure, a simple comparison of their ascendancies shows how strategically Palin is positioned to ride the brewing discontent at Obama's reckless fiscal policies to become the nation's first female president, just like Obama rode the anti-Bush and antiwar wave to become the nation's first black president."

Jonathan Weisman at The Wall Street Journal:

"It is Ms. Palin's groundwork on behalf of candidates across the country, along with her continued fund-raising abilities, that has Republican leaders and political strategists wondering whether she is gearing up for a presidential bid in 2012... Her influence is undeniable: On Sunday, SarahPAC disclosed contributions of at least $87,500 to Republican candidates she has endorsed, and a tantalizing $210,000 she has spent on consultants of her own. Ms. Palin also appears to have honed her pitch... She has also been judicious with her political endorsements... Such moves, if not announced as such, appear to be the maneuvers of someone mapping a political future, not a retired governor angling for a media career."

Rick Wilson via Politico:

"You could make an argument that Sarah Palin's motivated followers, monster email and social networking footprint and her values-match to a large percentage of Americans makes her a more powerful political force outside office than in for the 2012 cycle."

Don Surber at the Charleston Daily Mail:

"Liberal trolls occasionally appear to say go ahead, run Sarah Palin in 2012. Be careful of what one wishes... Palin is tied with [Obama] at 46% each... Apparently, she needs only one third of the moderate vote to win. This is not an endorsement of her, but the poll does indicate that she is a very strong candidate for 2012."

Meena Hartenstein at the NY Daily News:

"Palin's contributions are being interpreted as evidence that she is building a network of Republican supporters who will return the favor when she decides to run for President... SarahPAC's filing also shows that Palin spent over $210,000 on various consulting fees last year, perhaps another indication that she is preparing for a presidential bid of her own and seeking the advice of experts to guide her. And Palin's popularity continues to grow among voters. Crawford told Politico that 8,000 new donors have contributed in the last quarter, bringing the total number of those who have donated to 25,000."

Steve Flesher at American Thinker Blog:

"The guts of Palin's 2012 potential sit with Obama's current status. GALLUP's approval rating of Obama shows 44% with a disapproval of 48% -- which sets him very close to Palin. Statistically, if Palin and Obama ran against the other today, not one stands a better chance above the other. This could prove to be great news for Sarah Palin if indeed she is interested in running. As her candidates keep pushing through their primaries and assuming they win their respective general elections this year, Palin's credibility increases. Moreover; Palin will have much Congressional and Governors' support to cash in on once 2012 rolls around giving her substance."

- JP