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Palin already tipped as 2012 candidate
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor05.11.08
A BATTERED and demoralised Republican Party was set for years of bitter infighting today as Sarah Palin emerged as a likely presidential contender for 2012.
On a night of shattering defeats, the Alaskan governor appeared to survive the wreckage caused by George Bush's unprecedented unpopularity with her own reputation enhanced.
In a telling moment, Mrs Palin won the biggest cheer in John McCain's concession speech when he tantalisingly declared that "we all look forward to her future service", a clear hint at a presidential run in four years.
Mrs Palin's ability to energise the Republican base - and to raise the hard cash needed for any candidacy - certainly puts her in a strong position.
But the fact that she appeared to turn off millions of independent voters is seen by many moderates as proof that she can never win the whole country, and presages a wider split in what Americans call the Grand Old Party. Just four years after Mr Bush won a second term, the Republicans are poised for a prolonged period of blood-letting as a withered rump in Congress fights for control of its future direction.
Even though the Democrats looked unlikely to clinch the crucial 60 seats needed for unfettered control of the Senate, their gains in both houses means they have the upper hand for the first time since 1994. While social conservatives still backed the Republicans, they appear to have lost the blue collar voters, Hispanics and even business voters that got Mr Bush into power.
The party is set to split into several factions, with Mrs Palin leading the family-values wing and Mitt Romney, another likely contender for 2012, asserting himself as the sensible, pro-business candidate.
Mr Romney has already won the backing of the influential National Review magazine, which called him a "full-spectrum conservative".
"Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012," says one former Romney aide, who had worked for McCain-Palin.
But Jim Nuzzo, a White House aide to the first President Bush, dismissed Mrs Palin's critics, saying: "Win or lose, there is a ready-made conservative candidate waiting in the wings. Sarah Palin is not the new Iain Duncan Smith, she is the new Ronald Reagan."
Reader views (11)
Mitt Romney for President 2012!
- James, Delmar
Palin is more likely to be recruited for the shopping channel flogging elk heads and associated bling. She proved beyond any doubt during the 08 campaign she is incapable of being considered for tenancy on Penn Ave in DC.
Romney, despite his Mormon roots turning off the evangelicals is the right choice for the GOP into 2012.
- Ian, Ontario, Canada
After winning back both houses in congress in '10, I suspect the repub's will be looking for a fresh,formidable and GENUINELY conservative candidate in '12. Bobby Jindal seems more apt to fit that mold.
- Sean Kelly, Walkerton, Indiana
Please, Palin is through on the national scene. She might be a player in Alaskan politics, but losers aren't selected to by a party to run again. Look at John Kerry or Geraldine Farraro. You don't get a second shot at Oval Office when you were the party’s nominee.
- Ian, Washington, D.C.
Palin absolutely turned off many voters. McCain would have had a decent shot if he didn't nominate her. The Republican party has no future if they think they can win with someone like Sarah Palin. Go Mitt Romney in 2012!
- Nick, Boston MA
You could say all the women came out well in this campaign, Michelle, Cindy and Sarah. We'll certainly be hearing more from them.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
Sorry, unimpressed by Ms Palin during the current campaign, the snidey comments about her opponents - and her complete gullibility at falling for the fake Mr Sarkozy - terrifying!
- Marianne, SW France
The thought of this woman, who is to the right of both Maggie Thatcher and Gengis Kahn, becoming President if something happened to McCain is what turned people off. If the Republicians cannot see this we have to worry about them.
- Conspiracy Theorist, London
I can see it now Sarah Palin with Tito the Builder as her running mate. It would be just like the Tories choice of Ian Duncan-Smith to replace William Hague, only you can't replace a disaster in the American system. The Reublicans will be forced to pick an intelligent, young, well prepared candidate if they wish to avoid further disaster.
- Tommy Cockles, ealing England
Palin is a force to be reckoned with. She didn't turn off the Independent voters, Obama turned them on. After the damage that will be done by four years of Obama, Pelosi, Ried and the rest of the Democrats, they'll see the error of their ways, and will come crawling back to the GOP. Palin will be there to welcome them home.
- Q, Missoula, Montana, USA
Um No... The country has learned from it's mistake of electing a christian conservative president. She would fare better if she became a talk show host. Maybe make the show cater to the christian stay at home moms she's so popular with.
- Sj, Edison, NJ
