The GOP’s Next Ronald Reagan?
R
epublicans may have been
outspent in the 2008
election, but there are some
things money can’t buy. Energy,
charisma, star power: the kinds
of things Sarah Palin delivered to
the GOP ticket.
That has many in
conservative circles calling her
the GOP’s next big thing.
When Palin brought a
listless GOP convention to its
feet in St. Paul, Minn., a new
Republican star was born.
Not since Ronald Reagan
galvanized the 1964 GOP
gathering has a new political
face energized a convention the
way the feisty Alaska governor,
known affectionately as “Sarah
Barracuda,” did.
Spirits soared. And for
a while, at least, so did poll
numbers and fundraising for
Sen. John McCain.
Small wonder then that
She had neither the cash nor the
— someone who can connect
conservative insiders already
with people both in person
are planning to leverage Palin’s
political infrastructure of her and through the television. She
popularity as they attempt to
opponents, yet Sarah Palin became
projects confi dence.
regroup in the wake of the
Joseph DiSarro, who heads
election-night loss.
an overnight sensation. Her star the political science department
Charles Dunn, dean of
power assures she’s got a future
at Washington & Jefferson
Regent University’s School of
College in Washington, Pa.,
Government is among those who
in the national conversation. was in the audience at the
believe Palin’s presence on the
Washington Wilds baseball fi eld
national stage is just beginning. He speculated, “I think [in base” and that such a talent in
on Aug. 29, when Palin was
Her demeanor and down- 2009 she’ll do] exactly what she the aftermath of a Republican
introduced to an enthusiastic
home feel resonated with many is doing now: being one of the defeat will be a highly valued
crowd as McCain’s running mate.
Americans and, if she plays her leading spokespeople for social tonic in some GOP circles.
“The people were out in the
cards right, she could become a conservatives.” Larry Sabato, political science
sun for three hours waiting, and
staple of Republican politics. In the short term, Palin will professor at the University of
she electrifi ed them,” DiSarro
“Sarah Palin kept her end of return to Alaska to continue Virginia, tells Newsmax that,
tells Newsmax. “She is a very
the bargain. She galvanized the serving as governor while since the McCain-Palin ticket
dynamic speaker and speaks the
base, brought out big crowds eyeing, many speculate, a run for lost but kept the race respectable
language of individuals of the
and increased fundraising,” Senate. She also will continue and didn’t get crushed, it’s likely
medium and lower incomes. She
Dunn told The Bulletin in to tout her knowledge, passion, that Palin “will try for the GOP
really has an affi nity for the rural
Philadelphia. and ability to connect with presidential nomination
voter, the middle and lower class
“The McCain campaign put voters through efforts such as in 2012.”
workers, whether in a shop, or
her in a prison cell and locked helping special needs children “One risk for Palin is that
pizza place, or small plant.”
the door for several weeks, and and, perhaps, some type of becoming prominent in national
Palin eventually could run for
that allowed the media to mount energy initiative, Rosenberg tells politics is not always a boon in
Senate, all the while returning
criticism she was not conducting Newsmax. the eyes of folks back home,”
to what she did before being
interviews,” Dunn said. “I don’t know what part of says Linda Fowler, a government
the vice presidential nominee:
“If they had let her loose the party she’ll be, but Sarah professor at Dartmouth College
courting the reporters she wants
on America, she would have Palin is defi nitely a part of it,” and the author of several books
to court and talking to groups
become a major public fi gure. says conservative talk host Laura on national and regional politics.
she wants to appear before,
She is the next Ronald Reagan if Ingraham. “Despite all of the “Just ask George McGovern.”
DiSarro says.
she wants to be,” he said. elites on the right pooh-poohing Fowler tells Newsmax that
“Today, you can work a
“She is very ambitious,” her, what she’s done is simply Palin’s effect in the election was
room, but you have to know how
GES
agrees pre-eminent election show the vision and the ability to clear: She effectively mobilized key
to work a crowd and she can
watcher Gerald Rosenberg, connect with people, both Joe the elements of the Republican base.
work a crowd,” DiSarro says.
TY IMA
associate professor of political plumbers and [all] folks.” Palin’s strength centers on
“She is a very gifted politician,
/
GET
science at the University of Rosenberg says Palin has a what many call her ability to
there is no doubt about that.”
Chicago. masterful ability to “rev up the be a “living-room candidate”
— Tom Squitieri
A
VID MCNEW
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NEWSMAX / DECEMBER 2008
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