Palladian View conducted a poll this past weekend at the National Federation of Republican Women convention in Kansas City Missouri, with 41 of 50 states participating. Herman Cain was the pick of an impressive 48.9 percent of voters when asked who would be their selection for the Republican nominee if the primary were held today. Rick Perry was a distant second with 14.1 percent.
Voters also were asked if they were “satisfied with the present choice of Republican candidates for president.” Eighty-one percent responded “Yes” to that question. Of the 19 percent who said they were not satisfied with the current slate of candidates, only 22.7 percent of them said Sarah Palin entering the race would change their current vote. Those numbers, from a poll of leading Republican women activists and organizers, certainly indicate that the former governor made the right choice to forgo this race.
At the same time, Sarah Palin has proven herself to be one of those unique "celebrity" personalities, and it would be foolish to dismiss her ability to affect the Presidential race. Even though it appears a majority of conservatives have moved on from the idea of a Palin candidacy, she maintains significant gravitas as a political observer and frequent critic of the Obama administration, and as a kingmaker. Palin was instrumental in the ascension of several candidates during the 2010 midterms, and her endorsement is largely credited with propelling Nikki Haley to the front of the pack during her successful bid to become the first woman governor of South Carolina.
With no campaign of her own, Palin will be free to parachute in on any race across the country. As a presidential candidate, Palin had been largely dismissed. But as a commentator and kingmaker, when Sarah Palin talks, people will still listen.
