Sarah Palin says she can successfully take on President Obama in 2012. In a preview of an upcoming interview with Barbara Walters scheduled to air Dec. 9, Palin was asked the forthright question, "If you ran for president, could you beat Barack Obama?"
Palin said, "I believe so."
In the meantime it is evident Palin is trying to remain fresh and relevant in the public eye regardless of the venue. Leading up to the midterm elections, Palin stumped for many Tea Party candidates in both House and Senate races.
Palin has also rather adeptly used mass media to her strategic advantage. Between her eldest daughter Bristol's less-than-graceful appearance on the hit TV reality show, "Dancing with the Stars," to the launch of her own program on TLC, it's clear Palin wants her face and name embedded firmly in the public consciousness.
Remaining Relevant
Palin's attempt set up permanent camp on the nation's center stage, despite the fact she has not held a position in public office in over a year, is, to say the least, telling. CBS News reports after Palin resigned as Alaska's governor in July 2009, she began a book tour in earnest. "Going Rogue" reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
Speaking engagements are common for the former governor. Palin earns upwards of $75,000 per speech, according to Business Insider. Her daughter Bristol recently netted a plump $14,000 for a speech she gave in support of a center for single mothers in Louisville, Kentucky.
Stumping for Tea Party candidates during the midterm elections also helped solidify Palin's feigned importance. The Tea Party Express helped fund her endorsements. Many candidates have Palin's speeches and Tea Party backing to thank for their midterm election victories.
Television Appearances
The Palin family is also using regular appearances on television to further Sarah's future political career. Keeping American households in touch with the Palins may serve to endear them more to television audiences.
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" struck ratings gold with its premiere on TLC. Entertainment Weekly reports the number of viewers for the first showing eclipsed the best-ever ratings for a pilot on TLC. Nearly five million viewers tuned in to see the beginning of Sarah's Alaskan adventures Nov. 14.
"Dancing with the Stars" has felt the touch of Sarah's influence as well. Daughter Bristol has survived to advance to the finals despite receiving consistently poor scores from the judges. The ABC staple has reaped the benefits of Sarah and Bristol's popularity with higher than average ratings as it saw an estimated 17.2 million viewers tune in recently, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
The Future
Regardless of the outcome of the primary election of 2012, Palin has made it clear she intends to remain in the hearts and minds of American viewers by any means necessary.
With books, television shows, public speaking engagements and political endorsements, the Palin name is not going away any time soon. Her Barbara Walters special in December will add ratings thanks to her personable character and folksy attitude which many American voters appear to enjoy.
Palin has two years to create the opportune political waves for a realistic bid to run for President of the United States. After many unprecedented Tea Party victories during the midterm elections, it's unwise to count this Alaskan self-described political heavy-weight out of the running.
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