Political Perceptions: Palin, Perhaps Planning Ahead

“Is Palin making plans for 2012?” So asks Andrew Romano of Newsweek. “I ask,” he writes, “because she’s contradicted John McCain on a number of subjects in recent weeks–and every contradiction seems calibrated to preserve (or even enhance) her standing with the Republican base should the Arizona senator lose on Nov. 4.” Romano cites Sarah Palin’s comments that she wouldn’t have bailed out of Michigan, that she’d like the campaign to be raising the comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright , that she prefers a constitutional ban on gay marriage, and that she wouldn’t be making campaign robocalls to voters. “Maybe I’m crazy.” Romano writes. “But doesn’t it sort of seem like Palin’s saying, Hey Republicans: don’t blame me if this guy loses?… In short, Palin would’ve been more of a culture warrior than McCain and less a product of the past–an ‘authentic’ social ... (link)