Campaign 2012: Sarah Palin Fans Fire Back at Mitt Romney

In a possible preview of the 2012 Republican primary contest, a skirmish has erupted between Mitt Romney and fans of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. At issue are comments that Romney made implying that Palin was only included on Time Magazine's Time 100 list because she's hot. When asked why the list only included 2 Republicans, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin, Romney had this to say:

John, I'd like to have a lot more influential Republicans. I think there are a lot more influential Republicans than that would suggest. But was that the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people? I'm not sure. If it's the most beautiful, I understand. We're not real cute.

Palin's supporters are right to be offended, but so should Romney's. Is he really saying that he's not as hot as Rush Limbaugh?

Palin's supporters at Conservatives 4 Palin are running this video in response, which makes use of Palin's recent meeting with the American Chopper crew and a bear:



There's no way to know at this point, but I imagine Romney's next move will be to purchase the rights to "Yakkety Sax" and make a copyright claim with YouTube.

This episode vividly portrays the massive problem Republicans are going to have on their hands in 2012. With a full slate of candidates splitting the non-Palin vote, and the tendency to launch the kind of offensive comments that Romney made, the GOP hopefuls of 2012 have their work cut out for them.

Imagine, if you will, that the PUMA movement had started in 2005 instead of June of 2008, and had those 3 years to gain momentum? That's what the Sarah-fim will be like. Plus, I imagine they'll be able to count on support from the actual PUMAs, at least in the primary.

My advice to any Republican who plans on running for President in 2012 is to be really nice to Sarah Palin. That way, if it doesn't work out (and it won't), they'll at least have a shot at the bottom of her ticket.

Tommy on: Daily Dose:

• Poor Jeff Zeleny
• Rushing to Conclusions
• Robert Gibbs' Magical Powers and Other Observations
• The Republicans' First 100 Days


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