In an interview with Politico, Demint had this to say about Sarah Palin:
“We’ve never spoken, but she left me a nice message, and I believe she’s done more for the Republican Party than anyone since Ronald Reagan,” he said.
The article also pointed this out:
DeMint backed Romney in the 2008 presidential primary — but said he’s got “an open mind” about 2012.
“He’s obviously near the top of my list, he’s a good quality candidate and we’ve got others who are looking at it,” said DeMint, who also is getting encouragement from some conservative activists to run for president.
Senator DeMint, here’s a question for you:
Does Sarah Palin light up a room like Mitt Romney?
I can hear it now…. “Jim DeMint is a RINO!”
Romney/DeMint 2012!
The Palin followers will scream ‘RHINO’.
DeMint will back Romney, I have no doubt. And Palin is NOT running. I wish she would announce her intentions…but that might slow down the gravy train. She is hurting the good candidates…but hey, if she does, let the debates begin. I can’t wait
I don’t think she’s hurting anyone, right now. I think she has the opportunity to do much good in the 2012 race, and whether she runs or not, I don’t think she’ll deliberately do anything to hurt any of the others’ chances in the general election. She knows the stakes. Personally, I think she’s going to wait a few more months, let herself be courted by all the candidates and moneymakers, and then make a decision about whose vice president she’d like to be. I just don’t think she wants to be president; but I do think she’ll make an endorsement in advance of the primaries, and whomever she endorses will be the winner.
Oh, by the way? The question of whether or not Sarah Palin lights up a room is never one to ask lightly (so to speak).
@phyllis
That’s “RINO” and you only wish Palin wasn’t running…
How’s that health care debate going anyway? What does Mitt know
about energy?If Oil is an issue in 2011… Palin’s the
candidate.
For the record… the ‘Jade’ who posted above is not me.
Ah, someone waved that red cape again, so I’m going to give my favorite rant. Regular readers may feel free to skip this comment.
When Mr. Romney was governor of Massachusetts, the legislature was over 85% Democrat. The health care bill passed in Massachusetts was passed by an 85% Democrat legislature, and nothing that comes from an 85% Democrat legislature is going to be very good. Governor Romney vetoed eight sections of the bill because he thought that those eight sections would have bad consequences for business. The legislature overrode all eight vetoes. I understand his being proud of trying to do something about the health care situation, but the details of what Massachusetts has are not the same as what a President Romney would pass with a Republican Congress.
While the energy debate is not a red cape issue with me, Mr. Romney’s experience suggests that he’d handle energy very well. Like all great leaders and managers, he knows how to find the right people to give him an understanding of issues. While we’d all love for a leader to have more direct experience, a president can never have direct experience in every issue that a president must face. Mr. Romney had likely never driven a bobsled, but he still did a great job saving the Salt Lake City Olympics.
I like Sarah Palin, and I’d be proud to support her if she won the nomination. She’d do a good job as president, but I think she’d have a very hard time winning the general election. She has good experience with the oil industry, but even so, she’d need to surround herself with good people even in dealing with oil issues. Mr. Romney has shown himself just as capable of finding those good people.
I’m glad to see Senator DeMint praising both of these good Republican leaders. Both of them energized the voters in 2010 and helped us achieve our historic victories. Mr. Romney didn’t attract quite as much media coverage, but his fundraising and support were hugely important. Mrs. Palin attracted media coverage because she’s such a polarizing figure. I’m sure many of the reporters were dying to be recording her when she had a major gaffe, and her ability to do all that she did without a gaffe is impressive.
I tend to agree with Phyllis that Mrs. Palin will not run. She’s very effective in her current role and is having a good time. Being a private citizen allows her to focus on her family when needed, and that freedom is nice for someone with children still at home. I disagree that she is hurting anyone by not announcing. Most of America isn’t paying attention to politics right now and doesn’t even want to see a news report that she won’t run.