The media has been in a frenzy to get this question answered from Palin in the last few weeks -will you run for president in 2012? Palin has said that if there isn’t an effective candidate in the race then she will be forced to take the reins and officially enter the race. But as a republican? We can’t be entirely sure.
May 2nd is the first official Republican presidential primary debate and Palin has chosen to skip it, instead opting to speak in Denver at a speaking event for the American soldiers. Many see this as an indication that Palin won’t run for president in 2012, but don’t write her off yet. If a Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney look like they will emerge as victors from the republican primary, then Palin might just run as an independent providing the Tea Party with a more likable candidate.
Palin was not dismissed from her role as a commentator on Fox News, like her republican colleagues Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. However, maybe she is going rogue on this one and will ultimately decide later to run either as a republican or an independent. In a Fox interview she declared she was months away from an official statement, yet months from now would put her drastically behind the rest of the republican contenders.
In a recent statement Palin informed the BBC that finances would play a major factor in her decision to run, she reflected on Obama’s billion dollars that he is ready to spend to defend his seat in the White House. Commentators both on the right and left have argued that Palin’s media popularity outweighs her popularity as an electable candidate. However she does have a strong following and has ranked third in a recent political poll for republican contenders in the 2012 election, this ultimately could propel her into the election. Palin told the BBC that she will keep addressing the issues until she is ready to make a more candid announcement.
Some conservatives argue that Palin’s many political mistakes would make her a bad choice as the republican presidential candidate and many democrats pray that she is nominated. However, supporters argue that the media dissects her every word and spins it as they would like. Palin’s leading gaffe happened at a Tea Party event early last year when she was caught reading notes written on her hand.
Derek Thomas is the editor-in-chief of republican2012.org and is posts regular updates on the latest 2012 republican candidates. Are you following the Republican 2012 election? We allow you to become an author, post your campaign jobs, and read the latest on the 2012 republican presidential candidates.
