Scott Conroy: Gingrich May Have Inside Track on Palin's Endorsement

"They speak very favorably of Newt and... his credentials as compared to Perry and Romney."
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It's no secret that most of the GOP candidates for president have been phoning Wasilla since October 5, hoping to get Sarah Palin's endorsement. Scott Conroy reveals at RealClearPolitics that while none of them have yet secured her backing, Newt Gingrich may be the candidate with the best shot at getting the nod from the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate:

While Palin has characteristically kept her cards close to her chest, advisers suggest that the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee is likely to endorse before someone emerges as the inevitable nominee -- and that Newt Gingrich appears to be best-positioned to secure her support.

"They speak very favorably of Newt and what they see as his credentials as compared to Perry and Romney," one member of Palin's inner circle said of the former Alaska governor and her husband, Todd, who has long served as her unofficial chief adviser.

Gingrich has been particularly effusive in expressing his admiration for Palin over the last few months, and she has returned the favor by heaping praise on the former House speaker.

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Though Gingrich is far from an ideal candidate to Palin and her advisers, his rivals may carry even more baggage in her eyes.

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Conroy points out that the aides who are his sources "emphasized that while Gingrich currently appears to be the front-runner for Palin’s endorsement, her thinking could change."

- JP