Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin To Tea Party: You're Winning. Don't Blow It Now

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 5, 2011, 1:44PM

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin addressed a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday, a day after Mitt Romney addressed his first-ever tea party event in the same state.

For Romney, it was a political gamble. As a rule, tea partiers don't like him much -- and some even conspired to embarrass him publicly as he took the tea party mic.

Speaking Monday, Palin seemed to send those tea partiers a message. Romney's new kowtowing shows you are winning in a big way, she told the crowd. Now don't blow it.

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Sarah Palin

Comedian Speaking Before Palin In Iowa Calls Liberals 'Special Needs Children'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 3, 2011, 4:23PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) in Madison, Wisconsin, April 16, 2011.

Well, this has the potential to become awkward.

Sarah Palin made her much-anticipated Iowa speech in Indianola Saturday, and the news is there's not much news. Palin didn't announce her candidacy for president during her address, though she told a reporter afterwards is she is still considering jumping in.

But what another speaker at the event said before Palin spoke is making headlines, and threatening to add another layer of embarrassment to the strange, petty drama that surrounded the event -- and Palin -- last week.

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Still Flirting With Presidential Run

Igor Bobic | September 3, 2011, 3:30PM

Sarah Palin

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is still not running for president. She just doesn't want you to forget she might, though, however slim her chances may be.

Palin, greeted by cheers of "Run, Sarah, Run" at a Tea Party rally in Iowa on Saturday, attacked President Obama, Washington, and her fellow Republican rivals, but declined to announce whether she would enter the race in 2012.

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2012

71% Of Republicans Don't Want Sarah Palin To Run

Benjy Sarlin | September 2, 2011, 3:19PM

Sarah Palin

It seems Sarah Palin has worn out her welcome with Republicans. An astounding 71% of GOP voters say they don't want Palin to run for president, according to a new poll by FOX News, with 25% supporting a bid and 4% unsure.

The numbers are brutal for Palin, who was long regarded as a potential frontrunner for the 2012 nomination. Even among Tea Party-identifying Republicans she fares poorly: 68% say she shouldn't run versus only 28% who say she should. The numbers aren't that far off from the general electorate, 74% of whom don't want her to run versus 20% who do. Outside of Tea Partiers, more than 70% of every demographic broken out in the poll's crosstabs -- men, women, white voters, non-white voters, voters with college degrees, voters without college degrees -- are against a Palin run.

As TPM noted this week, there hasn't exactly been a clamor going up among Republicans for a Sarah Palin run while she's tested the waters in recent weeks. Maybe the disastrous box office returns for a movie celebrating her Alaska governorship were an early warning sign.

h/t Gawker

Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney Says Sarah Palin Hasn't Explained Her Resignation

Benjy Sarlin | September 2, 2011, 12:37PM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney is not impressed with Sarah Palin's presidential resume, telling a radio host that he is concerned about her decision to abruptly resign her governor job in 2009.

"I've never gotten around the question of her having left the governorship of Alaska, mid-term," the former Vice President told radio host Laura Ingraham. "I've never heard that adequately explained."

He added that he'd "like to know more about that." Palin offered a plethora of reasons for the decision at the time she stepped down, most notably citing a slew of ethics investigations that she said paralyzed state government and required huge legal costs.

Cheney and Palin are generally considered two of the least popular Republican leaders in the country based on polling.

Sarah Palin

Christine O'Donnell Takes To Twitter After Tea Party Rejection

Benjy Sarlin | September 1, 2011, 8:33AM

Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell

The epic drama between Sarah Palin, Christine O'Donnell, and the Tea Party of America over who would appear at an event in Iowa this weekend appears to have reached its conclusion: Palin is in. O'Donnell is out.

But that's about all they agree on. According to CNN, Palin's camp was upset after O'Donnell's staff told the Tea Party group that they had the ex-governor's support in joining the event, even claiming that the two had been exchanging text messages. The group's president, Ken Crow, finally dropped O'Donnell (after briefly re-inviting her) once Palin put her appearance "on hold."

O'Donnell, who is promoting her book "Troublemaker," took to Twitter to defend her behavior and suggested reporters were inventing Palin sources as part of a conspiracy to hurt the Tea Party.

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Sarah Palin

Palin/O'Donnell Event Descends Into Total Chaos

Benjy Sarlin | August 31, 2011, 11:28AM

Sarah Palin

Update, 12:57 PM: According to NBC, Tea Party of America president Ken Crow said "I had to cancel O'Donnell," and is trying to lure Palin back to the event.

Update, 2:45 PM: Success! Palin sources tell RCP's Scott Conroy that the ex-governor will be in attendance.

First Sarah Palin was scheduled to attend the Tea Party of America's Iowa rally this weekend. Then Christine O'Donnell was invited. Then Christine O'Donnell was uninvited. Then she was re-invited. Now Palin is out. Maybe.

Easy to follow, right? According to the Wall Street Journal, Palin will not share the stage with O'Donnell, who she famously endorsed in 2010, because the ex-governor is sick of "continual lying" by the event's organizers. But there's still confusion over what's going on: Real Clear Politics' Scott Conroy disputed the report on Twitter, saying sources had told him the event was only "on hold," while a Tea Party of America official told reporter Shushanna Walshe the event was still a go after a talk with Palin.

It's easy to see where Palin might get a negative impression of the organizers, however. After initially asking O'Donnell to join the event, Tea Party of America's top officials split over their reasons for rescinding O'Donnell's initial invite, with president Ken Crow citing scheduling problems and co-founder Charles Gruschow citing widespread disdain for the former Senate candidate among Tea Party activists. They quickly brought her back into the fold, however, and Crow said they had "panicked" initially in dropping her.

Palin, who has yet to rule out a presidential bid, will still visit Iowa this weekend for other events.

Read more »

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell Re-Invited To Iowa Tea Party Rally Featuring Sarah Palin

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 31, 2011, 8:46AM

Christine O'Donnell

According to a chagrined tea party leader, Christine O'Donnell will once again be a belle at the movement's ball for Sarah Palin this weekend.

The Delaware News-Journal reports the Iowa-based Tea Party of America re-invited O'Donnell to speak at its Saturday event in Indianola, Iowa after booting her from the list of speakers.

On Twitter late Tuesday, O'Donnell wrote she has "humbly re-accepted the re-invitation."

Read more »

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell Booted Off Tea Party Event With Sarah Palin

Benjy Sarlin | August 30, 2011, 3:59PM

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell, back in the news this month promoting her new book, is no longer welcome at a Tea Party event with Sarah Palin this weekend.

O'Donnell was set to appear with Palin, who endorsed O'Donnell's 2010 Senate bid, at a rally in Indianola, IA. But officials at Tea Party of America, which is hosting the event, told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that they were dropping her. While the group's president cited scheduling problems as the cause, co-founder Charles Gruschow offered a very different explanation: backlash from local Tea Party activists upset over O'Donnell's inclusion.

"We decided not to have her speak," Gruschow said. "We felt it was in the best interest of the movement."

O'Donnell was a brief cause celebre for Tea Party activists in 2010, who helped her defeat heavily favored Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) in a Senate primary before she was trounced in the general election by Democrat Chris Coons. But the magic seems to have faded after her defeat as her much-hyped book has only sold about 2,000 copies.

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Sarah Palin

Who Doomed Sarah Palin's Presidential Dream?

Benjy Sarlin | August 30, 2011, 6:15AM

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is expected to make up her mind about a presidential campaign by the end of September, but it's not clear it matters much either way. Polls show relatively few Republicans clamoring for a Palin run on a national level as the one-time supernova is eclipsed by a crowded presidential contest and an array of new rising stars. About two-thirds of Republicans say they're satisfied with the current primary field.

It feels as if Palin's fabled 2012 run, a source of fervent speculation since before the 2008 contest even ended, has already gone out with a whimper. Palin is polarizing even within her own party and has shown little indication she can reverse the nation's long-settled perception of her as a media phenomenon with little appeal outside her limited fan base.

But how did she end up this way? And who is to blame? Here's a look at five of the leading culprits.

Read more »

2012

Will She? Won't She? The Signs Are Mixed Over A Possible Palin Presidential Entry

Thomas Lane | August 22, 2011, 5:55AM

Sarah Palin

Call them "Palinologists" - they're the equivalent of the Cold War "Kremlinologists" who used to scour for subtle hints about Politburo power dynamics. Palinologists, of course, do the same for one woman: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. And lately it seems they're reaching very different conclusions.

Read more »

Ames Straw Poll

Perry, Palin, and Polls: The GOP Primary's Wild Weekend

Benjy Sarlin | August 12, 2011, 5:16PM

Ames, Iowa. 2011. Ron Paul Supporters

Saturday is easily the most important day of the Republican primaries so far as the candidates face a major test in Iowa -- and a new challenger enters the arena.

The bulk of the field has been gathered in Iowa all week mingling with locals and noshing on corn dogs as crowds of national reporters follow their every move. The big show is Saturday afternoon as candidates make their final appeal for votes in the Ames Straw Poll, with the ballots closing at 4 PM.

Candidates are already planning all sorts of stunts to attract supporters. Rick Santorum is handing out free jelly. Tim Pawlenty invited Christian rockers Sonicflood. Herman Cain will sing gospel. All three will receive a visit from 2008 Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee, who will play bass at their booths.

The poll is totally unscientific, but a strong showing can give candidates a nice shot of positive press. And every candidate besides the state-leading Michele Bachmann is in desperate need of some help in that category. The only other heavyweight in the national polls, Mitt Romney, is not participating (although he's spent the last few days in Iowa). Tim Pawlenty is staking big money on Ames to jolt his lackluster campaign back to life and said on Friday that a flop would require him to "reassess" his approach. For some of the less establishment candidates, like Ron Paul and Herman Cain, a straw poll win could vault them back into the national conversation, much like Huckabee's second place finish helped draw new attention to his campaign and built momentum for his eventual upset victory in the state.

For the middle of the pack candidates, that boost is especially important given who isn't at Ames. That would be Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is expected to announce his presidential campaign in Charleston, South Carolina at a convention organized by right-wing site RedState.com. Perry's perfectly timed entrance threatens to squash contenders' straw poll gains by dominating the news cycle. If they don't break out soon, they could become buried as the race turns into a top-heavy war between frontrunners Bachmann, Romney, and Perry.

As if Perry's announcement isn't enough of a news suck, candidates in Iowa will also have to share headlines with Sarah Palin, who's in Ames. Although there's little evidence Palin is still seriously preparing for a presidential bid at this late stage in the game, she's still doing her best to convince her supporters not to rule her out. "There is still plenty of room in that field for a common-sense conservative," Palin told state fair-goers on Friday. "Watching the debate, not just last night, but watching this whole process over the past year, it has certainly shown me there's plenty of room for more people."

2012

Palin Rips Romney, Praises Bachmann On Debt Ceiling

Benjy Sarlin | August 3, 2011, 10:05AM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Flirting with a kingmaker role, Sarah Palin bashed Mitt Romney and praised Michele Bachmann in an interview with Sean Hannity on Tuesday night.

"Bless his heart, I have respect for Mitt Romney, but I do not have respect for what he has done through this debt increase debate," she said. "He waited until it was a done deal that we would increase the debt ceiling and more money would be spent, more money would be borrowed and spent on bigger government, and then he came out and made a statement that he didn't like the deal after all. You can't defer an issue and assume that the problem is then going to be avoided."

Her words echoed similar attacks from Romney rival Jon Huntsman as well as Democratic strategists like Priorities USA's Bill Burton. Like Huntsman, she praised Bachmann for taking an early position on the debt ceiling (she was a firm "no" on any increase from the start).

"She spoke out and she cast her vote according to her principles, she stood true," she said.

Palin has shown little indication she'll enter the race, though she said in the interview she hasn't made up her mind yet. But her direct attack on Romney suggests that she might play a significant role from the outside. It's unclear if she still has the same influence she used to, however, even with her famously loyal base of followers. A heavily promoted pro-Palin film, Undefeated, proved a box office disaster this month even as Palin lent it her personal seal of approval.

Gabrielle Giffords

Post-Giffords 'New Tone' Already Long Gone

Benjy Sarlin | August 2, 2011, 10:39AM

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), May 17, 2011.

After Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was nearly killed in a January shooting spree, talk of a "new tone" was all over Congress as lawmakers from both parties hoped the traumatic event would calm America's increasingly violent rhetoric. Instead, Giffords returned on Monday to find things as bad as ever.

Read more »

2012

Sarah Palin's PAC Pays $7K To 'Republican Presidential Travel'

Ryan J. Reilly | July 14, 2011, 5:45PM

Former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Updated at 6:10 p.m.

Sarah Palin may not have decided whether she's running for the president yet, but she's certainly traveling like she is.

Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC, paid $6,999 to a business called "Republican Presidential Travel" that is based out of a Washington, D.C. post office box, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday.

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Sarah Palin

To Attack McConnell Debt Plan, Sarah Palin Brings Back 'Don't Retreat, Reload' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 14, 2011, 9:54AM

Sarah Palin speaks before the National Rifle Association

It's baaack. On Hannity last night, Sarah Palin blew the dust off a phrase that caused her more than a bit of bother back in January.

Chatting about the looming deadline for a debt ceiling solution -- and her rejection of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan to end the crisis -- Palin pulled an old standby out of her bag of tricks.

"We cannot default but we cannot afford to retreat right now either," Palin said. "Now is not the time to retreat, it's the time to reload."

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Barack Obama

Is Tweeting Unpresidential? Obama Will Hold Twitter Town Hall But Will Not Tweet

Susan Crabtree | July 6, 2011, 5:45AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will hold his first ever Twitter town hall Wednesday at 2 p.m., but there is little if any chance the tweeting of this presidency will result in the same sort of online mishaps that make the new social medium such a tempting but dangerous place for many pols.

The White House and Twitter, which is co-hosting the Tweet-up, is taking measures to ensure there's no chance Obama will fall prey to some of the Twitter mishaps that have ensnared the likes of Sarah Palin (who memorably and quite unintentionally coined the new word "refudiate" in one tweet) and former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) who showed just how easily Twitter can get you into trouble by a simple slip of the mouse or misdirected twitpic.

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2012 elections

Six Months, Seven Fails: The Opening Round Of Campaign 2012 (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 1, 2011, 2:43PM

Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Sarah Palin (R-AK), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Herman Cain (R-TN)

Running for president is hard. Candidates have to be focused, dedicated and possess an almost unfathomable amount of vanity. It also takes a healthy appetite for shoe leather -- you're gonna put your foot directly in your mouth, usually on national television, more than few times before all is said and done.

At the end of June, campaign 2012 is coming along nicely on that front. We've seen candidates (and potential candidates) choke up on a debate stage, claim Paul Revere rang bells, scream at reporters on camera, flip-flop mightily and even misspell their own names at their own kickoffs. If the first six months of the presidential campaign trail are any guide, it's going to be an exceptionally fun year.

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Sarah Palin

Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher Casts Shadow Over GOP Primaries

Benjy Sarlin | June 28, 2011, 5:45AM

They say the sun never sets on an English friendship. Certainly that's the case in the Republican primary this year, where Ronald Reagan's partnership with Margaret Thatcher comes up often in speeches, interviews, and even campaign slogans.

Britain's "Iron Lady," famed for her free market ideals and tough-minded style of governance, has always been a popular figure in Republican circles across the pond, but she seems to have taken on new relevance in recent years for the party's leading lights. While George W. Bush identified strongly with wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, as he struggled to prosecute the War on Terror, national security has fallen far down the list of priorities for the party and the field is significantly divided on foreign policy. Instead, the focus is on the weak economy, which is clearly Maggie's wheelhouse.

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin: I Totally Didn't Quit -- Tour Will Continue 'When The Time Comes'

Jillian Rayfield | June 23, 2011, 1:15PM

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin has denied reports that she cut short her One Nation bus tour, posting on her Facebook page: "Why didn't anyone tell me? Oh, wait, that's because it hasn't been cancelled." But though Palin said she had been called back to Alaska for jury duty, she was vague about when she would restart the tour: "The next leg of the tour continues when the time comes."

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Reportedly Quits Bus Tour Halfway Through

Jillian Rayfield | June 22, 2011, 10:16AM

Sarah Palin

Former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin has reportedly packed in her bus tour...halfway through.

Read more »

2012 Presidential Primaries

Call In The Cavalry!: Meet The GOP Dream Ballot

Jon Terbush | June 20, 2011, 5:45AM

Republican voters have sampled their party's presidential choices, but are still left wanting.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week found that less than half of GOP primary voters are "satisfied" with the Republican slate. And in a recent Pew study, when asked for their reaction to the current GOP field, Americans' top three responses to the were "unimpressed," "disappointed," and "weak."

It's no surprise then that some voters are hoping for a white knight to leap into the fold and shake things up. Several polls bear this out, as they've shown non-candidates like Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani running well or even topping the entire field.

So who are these dream candidates? And will any of them answer the call?

Read more »

CA-36

Dem Hahn's CA-36 Ad: GOPer Huey More Extreme Than Palin (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | June 6, 2011, 3:30PM

TV ad from CA-36 candidate Janice Hahn (D).

Janice Hahn, the Democratic candidate in the CA-36 special election to succeed Jane Harman, has a new ad tying her Republican opponent Craig Huey to several democratic bogeymen: Sarah Palin, the GOP plan to privatize Medicare, and extreme right-wing rhetoric.

"Sarah Palin and Craig Huey. Which would ban a woman's right to choose in every case?" the announcer asks. "Both Palin and Huey. Which supports a radical plan to end Medicare, but wants to give tax breaks to the wealthy? Both Palin and Huey again.

"But which one called Planned Parenthood a 'murder mill'? Only Craig Huey.

"We don't need Craig Huey's extremist, right-wing agenda. Janice Hahn will fight for our agenda -- common-sense solutions, create green jobs, and cut Washington spending while protecting Medicare."

The election will be held on July 12. The district in its current form is strongly Democratic, and has only been getting more so over the past decade: It voted 64%-36% for Barack Obama in 2008, 59%-40% for John Kerry in 2004, and 55%-37% for Al Gore in 2000.

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin: 'I Didn't Mess Up About Paul Revere' (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | June 6, 2011, 11:15AM

On Fox News Sunday, Sarah Palin was asked about the version of Paul Revere's ride she offered during her visit to Boston, Mass., last week. Palin rejected claims that she'd flubbed her history, and criticized what she called a "gotcha" question.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Palin Apologizes To Romney For Upstaging His Prez Announcement In NH (VIDEO)

Jon Terbush | June 6, 2011, 10:37AM

Sarah Palin offered an apology - of sorts - to Mitt Romney on Sunday, saying she didn't mean to "step on anybody's toes" when her bus tour rolled through New Hampshire on the same day that Romney formally announced his presidential campaign.

"I apologize if I stepped on any of that PR that Mitt Romney needed or wanted that day," Palin said in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace. "I do sincerely apologize. We didn't mean to step on anybody's toes."

Palin's summer vacation/historical site bus tour swung into the Granite State for a clambake last Thursday, an event that took place just a few miles from the farm where Romney was holding his big campaign rollout. When asked about the timing last week, Palin told CNN it was merely happenstance.

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Offers Novel Take On Paul Revere's Ride (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | June 3, 2011, 3:29PM

Sarah Palin

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
Who made sure as he's riding his horse
through town, to send those
warning shots and bells
that we were going to be secure
and we were going to be free.

Read more »

New Hampshire Primary

New Hampshire's Biggest Paper Puts Romney Announcement Below Palin Tour

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2011, 10:32AM

If Mitt Romney was looking for huge headlines from his Thursday campaign launch in New Hampshire...well, he might have reason to be a bit disappointed.

Friday's front page of the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state's largest newspaper, has Romney's launch seriously overshadowed by two other events: The death of former Gov. Walter Peterson (R) -- and Sarah Palin's tour of the state. The latter was given the banner headline just above the fold, "Palin Hits The Seacoast," plus a large photo of Palin and her daughter Piper.

By comparison, Romney's kickoff was reduced to a mere inset photo within text of the Palin piece, and a small headline, "Romney Announces."

The caption text: "INSIDE: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announces his presidential candidacy Thursday in Stratham. Story, Page A3."

Read more »

2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Palin, Romney Tied For GOP Lead, But Others Close Behind

Jon Terbush | June 2, 2011, 1:18PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin continued their run at the top of GOP primary field nationally, according to a new PPP poll of registered voters released Thursday. But now that some other big-name Republicans have taken themselves out of the contest, a few candidates with lower profiles have suddenly -- and significantly -- closed the gap between themselves and the frontrunners.

In the poll, Palin and Romney tied for the lead at 16%. However, Tim Pawlenty (13%) and Herman Cain (12%) both polled within the survey's 4.1% margin of error.

Read more »

Pres '12

Palin: New Hampshire Visit At Same Time As Romney Announcement 'Coincidental'

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2011, 10:25AM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Sarah Palin's bus tour is making an appearance today in New Hampshire -- the same day that Mitt Romney is officially announcing his presidential campaign in the state, and in fact she'll only be a few minutes' travel away from him. But as she says, it's just a coincidence.

CNN reports:

"I think that's exciting for him, that's great for him," Palin told reporters at her Boston hotel before touring historical sites along the city's Freedom Trail. "It's coincidental that we are in the same territory at the same time, but more power to Mitt as he mounts his campaign and best of luck to him."

News leaked late yesterday that Palin is organizing a clambake for Thursday evening along the New Hampshire seacoast, just minutes from the Stratham farm where Romney plans to officially announce his second presidential bid.

Sarah Palin

Next Stop On The Palin Roadshow: Dinner With The Donald

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 31, 2011, 3:42PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Donald Trump

If you thought Sarah Palin's strange bus tour across the northeastern U.S. is a media circus now, just wait: Reports are coming in that Palin will on Tuesday evening meet up with the PT Barnum of media circuses, Donald Trump.

ABC's Michael Falcone reports on the details:

Read more »

Allen West

Sarah Palin's Bus Tour Off To Stormy Start After Chaotic Scene At Rolling Thunder (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | May 29, 2011, 1:55PM

ARLINGTON, VA -- Rep. Allen West (R-FL) was, until about a half hour before the Rolling Thunder motorcycle run began on Sunday, the most prominent politician in attendance. Then Sarah Palin showed up.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Karl Rove: Sarah Palin Thinks The Rules Don't Apply To Her (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | May 27, 2011, 3:50PM

Former Bush Adviser Karl Rove

Karl Rove said in an interview on Fox News Thursday night that Sarah Palin doesn't think the rules of presidential campaigns apply to her.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Fox News: We're Sticking With Sarah Palin

David Taintor | May 27, 2011, 3:11PM

Former candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin's getting ready to pound the pavement on an East Coast bus tour, bringing her potential 2012 ambitions back into the spotlight. But Fox News -- where Palin serves as a contributor -- isn't ready to cut ties just yet.

"We are not changing Sarah Palin's status," Bill Shine, executive vice president of programming at Fox News, said in a statement.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

It's True: Sarah Palin Is Back, National Bus Tour Starts Sunday

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 26, 2011, 1:50PM

Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin

Turn your clocks back to 2009: Sarah Palin's presidential ambitions are about to become the centerpiece of 2012 chatter once again.

RealClearPolitics' Scott Conroy -- who broke the news this week of the upcoming and extremely favorable documentary about Palin -- reports that Palin is about to hit the national stage hard.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Lights, Camera, Positive-Spin Action: Sarah Palin Is Back

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 25, 2011, 9:54AM

Sarah Palin speaks before the National Rifle Association

Just when Republicans were starting to worry their 2012 presidential field would be too boring to bother with, Sarah Palin might be fixing to ride in like a movie hero just at the nick of time.

RealClearPolitics' Scott Conroy has the details on a feature-length documentary set to release next month. The film is produced by Steve Bannon and the team behind Generation Zero, a tea party favorite about the financial crisis. Bannon funded the film himself "and he insisted upon taking complete control" -- after Palin asked him to make some videos about her -- but the results as Conroy describes them sound like the best campaign commercial Palin could have hoped for.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin's Top Aide Attacked Bristol In Private Communications

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 24, 2011, 8:47AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Rebecca Mansour, the adviser to Sarah Palin most closely associated with her post-Alaska political life, thinks Palin's daughter Bristol is a political liability. That's according to private communications published Tuesday morning by the Daily Caller that show Mansour comparing Bristol to other well-known relatives who have made life difficult for their famous political families.

"Two words: Patti Davis. Okay three more: Ron Reagan Junior," Mansour said in a series of Twitter direct messages obtained by the caller. "Two more: Billy Carter. Doesn't your family have one?"

Read more »

2012

Poll: With Huckabee And Trump Out, Romney And Palin Rise In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | May 19, 2011, 3:20PM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin received a boost to their presidential ambitions this week as voters who previously backed Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump went in search of alternatives now that each of the men has withdrawn from the presidential race, according to a Suffolk University poll released this week.

The poll was originally conducted before Huckabee and Trump withdrew, but the pollster went back to respondents who had initially supported those two, and found them breaking largely in favor of Romney and, to a slightly lesser extent, Palin.

Read more »

Newt Gingrich

Sarah Palin Blames 'Lamestream Media' And 'Racist' David Gregory For Newt's Political Crisis [VIDEO]

Benjy Sarlin | May 19, 2011, 11:23AM

Newt Gingrich did his best Sarah Palin impression this week, lashing out at the press in interviews, statements, and even epic poetry for baiting him into condemning Paul Ryan's Medicare plan and then piling on afterwards. Now he has the real thing on his side as Palin is slamming the "lamestream media" for his predicament.

Read more »

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Spreads Sarah Palin's Lie About Health Care Waivers (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 18, 2011, 3:35PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Tim Pawlenty, the man who many think will pick up the frontrunner baton in the 2012 Republican presidential nomination fight should Mitt Romney drop it, took to the airwaves yesterday to follow the lead of another high profile presidential contender: Sarah Palin.

On Fox News last night, Pawlenty deftly took up Palin's almost completely fact-free attack on the waivers from the new health care reform law that some businesses providing low-payout plans have received since the law passed. The Obama administration has exempted these less than ideal health care plans from new regulations, fearful that low-income employees will lose what little coverage they have before the exchanges open in three years.

Pawlenty, like Palin and a good part of the conservative blogosphere yesterday, called the practice of granting waivers "crony politics."

Read more »

Pres '12

Despite Approval Rating Spike, No Boost For Obama In 2012 Hypotheticals

Jon Terbush | May 11, 2011, 2:12PM

President Barack Obama

The death of Osama bin Laden gave a sizable boost to President Obama's approval ratings over the past week and a half. However, a PPP poll released on Wednesday finds that despite that bin Laden bump, Obama has not increased his leads over the big-name Republicans who may challenge him in next year's election.

Compared to one month ago, the latest survey did not show Obama pulling away from several prominent GOP candidates, though he did maintain his already comfortable leads over each of them.

In the poll, Obama beat each of the six Republicans tested against him, winning each contest by at least a five-point spread.

Read more »