Will Sarah Become Senator Palin?
It is an interesting possibility. After all, being in Washington would give her a much more national audience than she would have in another term as Governor of Alaska, and her term as Governor is up in 2010 as well.
The latest polls show that Palin would have an uphill climb in the primaries against current Senator, Lisa Murkowski who just happens to be the daughter of Frank H. Murkowski, the former Alaska Governor who Palin defeated in the Republican Primary for Governor. The latest poll is from the Hays Research Group, was taken March 24& 25, and it shows that Palin has a 59.8 % positive rating and 34.9% negative and Murkowski a 71.6% positive and 20.9% negative. This is an overall rating, which could spell trouble for Palin not only in a race for the Senate, but in any other race as well.
Alaska has been solidly Republican, most of the time recently, but things could be changing. Long time Senator Ted Stevens lost his seat to Democrat Mark Begich. The Murkowski seat is one that the Republicans do not want to loose in any way, shape manner or form. They will want the strongest candidate and right now, it looks like that person is the current Senator. Sean Parnell, the current Lt. Governor is also mentioned as a candidate. In a 3 way primary, those who oppose Murkowski would split their vote between Palin and Parnell, a good thing for Murkowski. Palin needs to be in office if she is seriously considering a run for the Presidency in 2012. So running for the Senate may not be in her best interest after all.
She has two other choices, run again for Governor. Right now it appears there will be no opposition for her in the Republican primary. There are three Democrats in the running, two who have declared their intention to run, Bob Poe who is the Ex-State Administration Commissioner & Ex-Anchorage Economic Development Corp and Rob Rosenfeld (D) – Ex-ukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Director and one who has not declared, but who is considered likely to Ethan Berkowitz who is the Ex-State House Minority Leader, Attorney, ‘08 US Rep. Nominee & ‘06 Lt. Governor Nominee . The only one who has had elective experience is the one who has not declared. Palin has an excellent chance to hang on to the Governor’s seat against the first two and a good chance against Berkowitz.
Just to prove, that the world of politics is very mixed up, Palin has another choice as well. Alaska has one Representative, Republican Don Young who is up for re election along with the rest of the Congress. However, Young is having problems that might make it impossible for him to run. He is under investigation for possibly taking bribes. If he were forced to resign, Palin could run in a special election to fill his seat, or she could run against him in the Republican primary. So far no one, Republican or Democrat, has declared for his seat.
So, Palin has to decide whether to take that big risk for the high profile Senate job, go for the relatively safe Governor’s seat or run for Congress which would put her right in the middle of Washington, but as a member of Congress, she would not have the exposure she would as either Senator or Governor. So what should she do?
Comment by Judith Brown on 31 March 2009:
I hope she stays outside the beltway and the corruption in DC.
Comment by Jill Again on 31 March 2009:
Please stay at home in Alaska. The rest of us have already had too much Palin. You wonderful people in Alaska think she’s great – fine. Keep her.
Comment by Skylar Jordan on 7 April 2009:
Sounds like her best bet is to seek reelection as governor. I’m by no means a Palin fan, so I’d love to see her out of the race for any national office. But I also like handicapping races, and I have to say if Palin wants to run in 2012 – when I believe the Republicans stand a decent chance at defeating Obama should things not turn out well by 2011 – she should remain as governor.
Any electoral loss will set her back, and people will be skeptical to vote for someone who can’t even win their party’s senate nomination. Palin, despite her many fumbles in recent weeks, is still riding high with the conservative base, and she would do well to keep doing what that base (and Alaskans, mind you) seem to thinks he does best: governing Alaska.
Comment by Cheryl Harper on 7 April 2009:
Given Sarah’s poor performance in the Presidential campaign I cannot conceive that Alaska will elect her for Dog Warden. Pity the dogs. Sarah is indeed charismatic, and she has previously won the hearts of Alaskans. Presently however, in light of her dubious reputation of “strong-arming” (assisted by her husband), has been investigated for ethics, proven herself to be obviously below average in intelligence, family problems, tax problems and all those lovely little “job perks” including hauling her children around on trips courtesy of the Alaskan taxpayers and an attractive per diem – I think Alaskans are smarter than to step in the same pile twice. I pray the GOP America are. Today Sarah announced to the world that Alaska is a “sovereign state.” News to me – but that’s okay……..it gives you all the more power to keep your Queen at home!