by DD Sow

Created on: November 17, 2008   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

In 2007 on a trip to Anchorage I heard of Governor Sara Palin as an Alaskan Joan of Arc. She was praised by her management skills and it was all but clear that though she had little insight to key issues such as healthcare, immigration or foreign policy, this did not matter for Alaska as their electorate approved of her qualities as a Governor. Alaskan electorate gives a solid 88% to Governor Palin yet outside the state the polls have not given her the same affection?

Senator McCain has described Sarah Palin as "someone with strong principles, a fighting spirit and deep compassion" but throughout the 2008 Presidential Campaign there were little signs that this was true. The news of her unmarried 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy gave her little room to convince a conservative electorate but the polls were not too convinced over her response. Governor Palin tussle with state lawmakers over alleged abuse of power also brought questions of the moral value she would bring to the White House. Gaffe-filled in short interviews were seized on by critics as reasons why she was not up to the job even the most important newspaper in Alaska endorsed her opponent though Alaska did go overwhelmingly to the Republicans on Election Day.

There is no doubt in my mind that Governor Palin can find supporters but how far are her supporters willing to take her to. In 2006 while battling for the seat of Governor of Alaska, she was known to have done formidably well in debates against incumbent Governor Tony Knowles , analyzing this televised debate, it is clear that she lacks the substance on issues but it is her energy and passion that she brings that really strikes a chord with the Alaskan electorate but on a recent televised Vice-Presidential debate against Senator Joseph Biden many polls conducted nationally by various news channels ranging from moderates to conservatives gave the impression that she hung on by less than a whisker of a thread. So much so one anonymous Senator McCain's Aid mentioned though she didn't win the debate she could've lost the election there itself. So is the Republican Party willing to court a candidate like that and if so is that enough to take her past the 2012 Republican Primary?

Governor Palin has certainly rejuvenated some elements of the Republican Party but there are other spectrums that she still needs to harness support from. The Sarah Palin of 2008 may be great for Alaska but even after a $150,000 make over was not good enough for America. Come 2012, a new Sarah Palin needs to emerge.

When I asked a friend of mine in Austin, Texas about his opinion on Sarah Palin, shortly after the 2008 election, he choked over his beer and said "She's a joke!"

That is exactly what Governor Palin needs to win over, an electorate that does not take her seriously but more importantly an electorate that understands what she is about.

Learn more about this author, DD Sow.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.