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Palin Power: A Losing Month for Endorsements, but Up Overall

2 years ago
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It's been a tough month for Sarah Palin's mama -- and papa -- grizzlies. Still, her endorsement record this year is in positive territory.

After a great June, several candidates endorsed by Palin lost in primary elections. Four more will take the primary test Tuesday and another six on Sept. 14.

The former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate is all over Facebook and Twitter promoting her endorsements. And she's used her political action committee to donate some $87,500 to candidates.

Thus far, our tally shows Palin is 6-2 in endorsements in governors' races, 3-6 in U.S. House races and 4-2 in U.S. Senate races. That's an overall record of 13-10 so far in 2010.

Eleven other candidates she's endorsed face no primary opposition, and she donated to another dozen candidates after their primary election success, including Sharron Angle, who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada. Palin said she'll actively campaign for Angle there.

And just today, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of womens' right to vote, Palin endorsed four more women running for Congress and three running for statewide offices. Only one of the state candidates still faces a primary.

We'll break it down for you a few ways.

First, the losses of the past month: On the positive side for Palin:

If you consider her endorsements and donations as building a foundation for a 2012 presidential run, Palin has scored in early primary states such as Iowa and South Carolina.

Here's a look at her wins and losses by states:

Governors' races won: Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.

Governors' races lost: Georgia and Wyoming.

U.S. House contests won: Illinois, South Carolina and Washington.

U.S. House contests lost: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

U.S. Senate contests won: California, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio

U.S. Senate contests lost: Kansas and Washington.

On Tuesday, Palin's biggest bet may be in her home state of Alaska, where incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski takes on Palin-endorsed challenge Joe Miller. (Keep in mind that Palin donated $5,000 to Murkowski in June 2009, then switched to Miller and anted up $5,000 to him this June.)

Also Tuesday, her 2008 running mate, John McCain, faces a primary opponent in his bid to hold his Arizona Senate seat. Palin also endorsed Paul Gosar in a four-way race in Arizona's 1st CD. In Florida, Allen West is running in the GOP primary, hoping to face Democratic incumbent Rep. Ron Klein in the 22nd District.

Palin's final endorsement challenges come in a round of Sept. 14 primaries -- though she could endorse even more primary candidates between now and then.

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21 Comments

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vallesula

....way to go mamma griss...., grab it while the going is good. Five kids and a gentleman of leisure to feed are lots of mouths.

August 20 2010 at 6:29 PM Report abuse -8 rate up rate down Reply
Steve

She resigned as Governor halfway through her term.Oh, she comes up with some 'lame' excuse but the fact is-'she quit'. Not to run or move to another office or position. Just quit on her 'oath'. THAT is what she will be noted for- if she seeks another office. She's 'politically' done.

August 20 2010 at 6:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steve's comment
Steve

jpgoodrow.... There's that lame excuse. Do all the 'excusing' you want-she's a self-centered 'quitter'. As you said, she's making millions-not off of Democrats, off foolish people. Like I said, and you just did, she quit. Will ALWAYS be known for that. It will ALWAYS be brought up. She'll never run again, because she knows this fact. That is what so 'hilarious'.

August 20 2010 at 11:54 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
fworfe

As with all fashions and flashes in the pan, most political sensations soon go out-of-style. I believe Sarah Palin is smart enough to know that she should play her hand to the fullest short-term advantage, for lottery hands like the ones she's been dealt thus far, simply won't keep coming. The Tea Party belief system---whatever it is---Palin's hip-fire ideology, they've had a landfall run, but the finish line is probably just areound the next bend.

August 20 2010 at 4:49 PM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
Steve

Palin is ALL about Palin. She will do and say anything to stay in the public eye. Nothing she contributes to the 'political dialogue' is of any help or construtive for the nation. Always negative or whining. She has another book coming out, so look for her to 'push,shove, and elbow' her way to the forefront.

August 20 2010 at 2:41 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
Bonbon

Oh I know, I am so frightnened of this woman, I mean she is just one scary scary woman isn't she, look at all the damage she can do campaigning for a few people and being a Fox news contributor and author, we better all run and hide, LOL!

August 20 2010 at 12:40 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
Rob

Ever since this woman entered the spotlight, the US has been exposed as having a very large percentage of the populace that is beyond clueless. Never in my lifetime could I have imagined that someone like GW Bush could be anything more than a carwash attendant. Sara Palin almost makes Bush look like he could have risen to carwash cashier. What is wrong with America? I am starting to imagine a country where most people would wear the same T-shirt with the hand pointing on it and that says "I'm with stupid!" The media is to blame, of course, for giving Palin any validity at all as someone able to walk and chew gum at the same time. I am picturing her and GW walking down a sidewalk and both chewing gum, while, constantly bumping into each other. I wish I was joking! Americans need to grow up and grab a brain! The press needs to stop with the tabloid journalism and grow up as well. Let's face it, journalists are to blame for allowing Bush to flush his country down the toilet, as they seem more interested in taking sides politically, than exposing and reporting the incompetence in the whitehouse that nearly destroyed America. Investigative journalism is now a thing of the past, leaving idiots a forum and a voice, when they have no business even being there at all. Instead of wasting space with Palin, why don't you write about something that truly matters?

August 20 2010 at 12:06 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Rob's comment
ha94s10ss

Rob, you are correct but it's been going on a long time. I remember Joe McCarthy and the rest of that lame Republican witch hunt. The press could play a realy important service to the USA if they would do investigative reporting and then just report what they have found and let us make up our own minds as to how we want to handle the information they give us.

August 20 2010 at 4:30 PM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
sfamilyent

I have yet to find a single Palin position on any topic that I can support. I would consider her endorsement to be the kiss of death...

August 20 2010 at 11:53 AM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
wolfml1

Palin has cried wolf about Freedom's that she believes have been denied, when all it is, is a consequence of her blatant misunderstanding of Constitutional Rights. She and individuals have the right to say anything they want, the American People have the right to criticize those views because they have the Constitutional Right to do so. No one has been mislead more than the American People by someone who, if the media would just leave her to her own devices, would just eventually go away.

August 20 2010 at 10:24 AM Report abuse -8 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to wolfml1's comment
jspe7

Yes, hopefully, this master of "twisting the facts" will go away very soon, along with her "death panel" nonsense, which has put fear into so many senior citizens. Sarah Palin knows that the only "death panels" are the insurance companies, who will let people DIE, when they refuse to pay their health bills, with pre-existing conditions nonsense, and giving their executives bigger and bigger bonuses Sarah Palin is indeed a VERY dangerous person , who has no credibility left with the American people, with her playing, dangerously, with the facts

August 20 2010 at 10:54 AM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
jspe7

Sarah Palin? Sarah Palin? An endorsement from who, Sarah Palin? Just who is she? Is it that know-nothing. big-mouthed loser that was picked , unfortunately by John McCain who should have known better. If there was one single thing that doomed his bid to be president , it was SARAH PALIN, because she is SCARY I do believe that she is also the person who frightened so many senior citizens with her irresponsible claims that the new health plan would include "DEATH PANELS" Why would anyone want an endorsement from such an irresponsible loser

August 20 2010 at 9:11 AM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
Jcwfuntime

Sarah Palin's endorsement record will continue to decline. People are finally starting to realize what an "air head" she really is, and canidates are beginning to distance themselves from her. They're saying "Thanks", but "No Thanks". It's sort of like the "kiss of death" to a political canidate. Some people are just "slow" learners I guess. You think they would have caught on to just how much "space" she had between those ears, during her vice presidential bid. All she does is go all over the country trashing everything Democratic, our president and his admiminstration, attending Tea Party (Now officially known as the "Pee Party") riots, making speeches, and then writing books about all that. The Tea Party, which has been accused of "racially motivated" slogans, signs, banners, and speeches, and trying to mend it's image, is even a little skeptical of Sarah after her recent comments where she tried to defend Dr. Laura's racial statements. Even Dr. Laura had enough sense to publicly admit she was wrong, and apologized, and said she would shortly retire. Sarah's appeal unfortunately is wearing "very thing", and coming to an end. Paybacks are Hell Sarah!!!!

August 20 2010 at 8:43 AM Report abuse -7 rate up rate down Reply

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