This one pegs our "Wild Hare" meter
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Lamestream media blathering heads and political spin doctors are pushing the ridiculous rumor that Sarah Palin is moving to Arizona, not to run a 2012 presidential campaign from Maricopa County, as earlier rumors projected, but to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican John Kyl.
The rumor was floated in last Sunday's edition of The Arizona Republic, and it is being pumped up by Arizona Democrats as a fundraising gimmick with the complicity of Vichy Republicans. Ford O'Connell and Steve Pearson hyped it Thursday at Tucker Carlson's establishmentarian The Daily Caller.
The rumor pegs our "Wild Hare" meter for several reasons:
First and foremost, Gov. Palin is an Alaskan who loves her state. Though she may establish a base of operations in the lower 48 - understandable, because Alaska is effectively out of the political loop due to its relative remoteness and time zone differences - we can't see her changing her first allegiance to her home state. The governor values loyalty, and she has always been loyal to Alaska. Don't expect a TLC series titled "Sarah Palin's Arizona." It's not going to happen.
Secondly, the 2008 vice presidential candidate has never shown any interest in becoming a member of the U.S. Senate. That's not to say that she would never consider such an option, but even if she did decide to run for the Senate, she would not move to Arizona to do it. If Sarah Palin doesn't run for president in 2012, and decided to run for the Senate, she would likely challenge Mark Begich, the Alaska Democrat whose term expires in 2014. Begich is vulnerable, as his approval ratings are hovering around 35 percent, while the former Alaska governor is still viewed favorably by a majority of Alaskans.
Finally, the U.S. Senate is not the focus of Sarah Palin's ambitions, nor has it been since Frank Murkowski gave his daughter the Senate seat years ago (h/t: hrh40). Her sights are set much higher now. She is seriously considering a run for the White House. As she said in her recent Facebook Notes op-ed, "2012 can’t come soon enough."
- JP
I agree with your conclusion, JP.
ReplyDeleteBut Sarah does have a history with the Senate.
She was one of Frank Murkowski's five final candidates to replace himself when he won the governorship in 2002.
She had an interview. And then he annointe ... erm appointed his daughter.
Then in 2004, Palin thought about challenging Lisa, but Track was big into hockey and didn't want a campaign. So Palin did not run and the Hockey Mom was born!
So in the past Senate was on the table.
But not anymore.
You don't travel to India and Israel to run for Alaska Senator!