Democrats and Vichy Republicans have their latest talking point from the DNC, and they are plastering it all over the web. The jist of their meme, rooted in a
Politico article, is that two GOP gubernatorial candidates -- Christie in New jersey and McDonnell in Virginia -- don't want Sarah Palin to campaign for them because she is "too polarizing" and might offend swing voters.
Wait a minute, says
Moe Lane:
"They’re aware as I am that she’s going to be very much in demand in Congressional races where the Democratic incumbent is holding down a seat in a district that McCain or Bush won. Of which there are quite a few; but Democratic strategists can perhaps not be blamed for not wanting to say something along the lines of ‘Well, THAT WOMAN is going to go through all those Southern/Western Blue-on-Red districts like a buzz-saw, so you might as well get used to it.’ The people who need to hear that most will want to hear it least."
Our friend Moe also points our that attempts to marginalize Palin's long-term appeal rather conveniently ignore the unparalleled interest her forthcoming book has generated. It was, after all, in
another Politico article where we learned:
A publishing industry source told POLITICO that they "cannot remember a non-fiction book taking off like this in the pre-order market. It became number one only a couple of hours after nothing more than a date announcement. It is truly unprecedented."
Well, unlike some of our "back east" brethren, we are fortunate to live in just one of the states where Sarah Palin is very much in demand to make campaign appearances:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign told POLITICO the Alaskan is slated to come to the Lone Star State early next year after she completes her book tour, during the latter part of Perry’s primary against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Update: McDonnell, it turns out, "repeatedly and personally" asked for Sarah Palin's help with his campaign, according to Palin spokesperson Meg Stapleton. Anita Kumar, on the Washington Post's
Virginia Politics blog, explains McDonnell's backtracking:
"McDonnell['s} decision to back away from Palin is typical of his attempt to moderate himself."
According to Stapleton, it was in August when a Northern Virginia GOP operative notified Palin's staff that McDonnell no longer wanted help:
Later that month, a staffer from Palin's PAC personally handed a $2,500 check to McDonnell at a Virginia fundraiser, Stapleton said. She said Palin also planned to donate the expense of her travel from Alaska to Virginia for a future campaign event.
See Bob run.
Bob is running to the center, boys and girls.
Run, Bob, run!
- JP
