THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 09 2012 20:42 | LAST UPDATED Feb 09 2012 20:42
News | World | North America

Sarah Palin launches new campaign: But why?

JONATHAN MANN  Nov 20 2009 11:16


She's back! In fact, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor who became a sassy sudden superstar when she ran for the United States vice-presidency last year, is on a whole new campaign.

Palin has written an autobiography, begun a cross-country book tour and secured a spot on virtually every newsstand and TV set in sight. The question is why?

"My ambition, if you will, my desire is to help our country in whatever role that may be, and I cannot predict what that will be," she told interviewer Barbara Walters.

Palin's political career has moved so quickly that it's easy to imagine that she has a particular role in mind.

Mayor at 32, state governor at 42, and then a national candidate at 44, Palin is a working mother of five children who doesn't waste time. She resigned as governor four months ago and some people say the next step is obvious.

"If you want to be vice-president, by extension, you want to be president,” said James Carville, a Democratic Party strategist and CNN analyst.

Her timing is terrific. Right now, the Republican Party doesn’t have a real leader or a clear direction, except its strong opposition to president Barack Obama.

The president’s popularity is sagging under the weight on two wars, 10% unemployment and a polarising fight to overhaul America’s healthcare system.

Republicans are looking ahead to Congressional elections next year and then, the start of another long presidential campaign season a year later.

CONTINUES BELOW


If she decides to return to active politics, Palin will be buoyed by the many voters who adore her homespun style and conservative policies.

She’ll be weighed down by widespread doubts: seven out of ten Americans think she’s not qualified for to be president, according to a new CNN Opinion Research poll.

So she’s traveling the country selling books, meeting voters and raising her profile. No one really knows if Palin’s is going to run for the presidency in 2012, but just about everyone in America is watching.

  • Jonathan Mann presents Political Mann on CNN International each Friday at 8.30pm (Central Africa Time), Saturday at (10pm CAT), and Sunday at (11.30pm CAT).
  • TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

    Related Articles

    People

    comment guidelines
    1. Please review our comment guidelines
    2. Post your comment in the block below and press "Post as ..."
    3. Please allow between 15 minutes and 48 hours for your comment to go live
    4. Racist, sexist or stupid comments will be terminated with extreme prejudice
    blog comments powered by Disqus



    LATEST ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION



    Client Media Releases

    @mailandguardian - Top stories & newsflashes
    @NicDawes - M&G editor Nic Dawes
    @ChrisRoperZA - Editor, M&G Online
    @amabhungane - M&G Centre for Investigative Journ
    @mgfeed - Our whole news feed


    Advertisements