Sarah Palin – Iowa Book Tour Stop Significance – Rock Stars and the Media

Palin Draws large crowds in economically stressed Michigan - blog Adoring Palin

From Politico Jonathan Martin offers an analysis of Sarah Palin’s latest stop on her book tour: Sioux City, Iowa. Martin is one of the hundreds of news articles questioning the former GOP Vice Presidential nominees visit to the state and the implied “significance” that her visit (or Pawlenty’s or Huckabee’s) must mean a run at the White House in 2012. What is missing from these articles is the fact that Iowa has bookstores, and Palin is on a book tour – nothing more and nothing less – on the face of it.

One thing is certain, on Palin, she is one of those individuals who inspires, either admiration or scorn, depending upon which end of the political spectrum one is based. That said, in recent months, Palin, as a conservative, has apparently added to her popularity as those pesky pollsters continue to print findings on that nations political ideology and Palin herself. CNN headlines: “Polls Show Sarah Palin Still Viable for 2012”, while, Rasmussen Polling shows that Republicans are currently holding a 7 point lead in the generic congressional ballot.

For the politically minded, there is a great deal of fun to be had in speculating on who might run in 2012, that said, Palin’s popularity, or, more to the point, the obsession over Palin, by the media and those who may not care for her (often one in the same), is becoming more palpable by the day. A stop in Iowa may be just that – a stop at a bookstore, to sign copies of a book, because the book store is simply – there. The fact that people are standing in line, in conservative districts, to purchase her book (and as noted in the Politico piece) and have never involved themselves before in Iowa politics, coming from Republican and Independent designations, speaks volumes, not about Palin’s intentions necessarily, but about the direction of political think in this country and the need to find someone who people “trust”.

Should the Palin book tour stopped in Massachusetts, (Not on the Schedule) and hundreds or more had lined up to get a signed copy of her book, that would have been significant. That said the book is getting harder to find in Massachusetts, a run into a local Borders found one copy left on the shelf – the books are on backorder.

This is reminiscent of the popularity of one much dismissed (by the media years in advance of his presidental run) Ronald Reagan, who in the end won the State of Massachusetts, not once, but twice in his presidential bids.

Palin may have been in Iowa (and most likely was) to support her book tour, nothing more, nothing less. However, the attention she is generating is, to say the least, intense. Palin, based on the Politico analysis, has the ability to appeal to men, women, independents, republicans, and a few former Democrats who view her as a role model. Even shock rapper, Eminem included Palin in the lyrics of his song “We Made You (RockStar)”. Inclusion in an Eminem “rap” hardly seems significant on the fact of it; however, he has taken pains to lampoon political figures of significance in the past: specifically the Clintons.

No one person knows the intentions of Sarah Palin at this point, when the clock winds down in November of 2010, and additional, non-book tour forays begin in the states of Iowa and New Hampshire then speculation can begin in earnest. In the meantime, the media is sure to keep her in the spotlight, with good or ill intent, which will only strengthen her “base” and introduce her to those independents filled with buyers remorse that have begun to take a second look at Palin as President.

McCain’s Choice – May Preempt Obama - Joe Lieberman?!

Politico and Matt Drudge are both hinting at a McCain campaign leak tonight at approximately 6:00 PM – John McCain’s vice-presidential choice. The leak would be timed to send news houses into a tizzy. The question: how can networks cover two major political events effectively – Obama’s speech under a triumphal arch (or Temple), and the naming of McCain's running mate - one that some sources are indicating is an “unconventional choice.” Regardless of choice, the timing of a leak is an exceptional chess move on the part of the campaign.

McCain is known as a maverick because of his ability to part ways with the Republican Party when he feels strongly about any given issue. He's done this since he first took office. Given his history, he will most likely choose the running mate he wants – not one driven by a political motive, rather one that he feels is best suited to the task and in the best interest of the country.

The possibility of Joe Lieberman running as a Vice-President (a second time) is not out of the question. Other names being bandied about are: Pawlenty (safe), Ridge (conservative – somewhat unsafe), Romney (conservative- somewhat safe), Lieberman (Independent – a maverick – actually - safe). How would a Lieberman V.P. choice affect the party? From a moderate perspective, Joe Lieberman would appeal to those moderate Democrats who were previously wed to the Clintons – the working class, non-progressive Democrats, the Reagan Democrats – and most importantly, the Independents. Lieberman may push extreme right conservatives to the wall, but in retrospect, those who are smart enough to know that an Obama presidency can not be tolerated would eventually warm to Joe. Win-Win.