Matt Dowd: Sarah Palin’s Trip to Iowa About Attention, Not Running for President
EmailI spoke to Matt Dowd on “GMA” this morning. Despite a last minute trip to Iowa the same week as a debate and the Ames straw poll, he still doesn’t think Sarah Palin is running for president in 2012.
“I ultimately don’t think she is getting in this race. I don’t think she’s done anything, put staff together, done anything at all possible to look like she is credibly running,” Dowd, an ABC News contributor, said. “I think this is her saying ‘I’m still a voice in the Republican Party, listen to me’ and that’s what she’s doing. It’s about her getting attention and not much about her running, I don’t think.”
We also talked about Dowd’s fascinating article comparing Obama’s August 2011 to Bush’s August 2005. After a series of events including increased casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina Bush’s “presidency was done,” he said. Obama isn’t yet in the same place, according to Dowd, but this August has a “very familiar feel and smell that [Obama] has now broken some aspect of his relationship with the American public.”
“He has given two speeches George, as you know, in the last couple of weeks, one where basically Congress ignored him,” Dowd told me.
“And the second speech I think was more damaging when he got up and the split screen happened and basically as he was talking the stock market was dropping 600 points…That visual is not a good visual,” he said.
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““I ultimately don’t think she is getting in this race. I don’t think she’s done anything, put staff together, done anything at all possible to look like she is credibly running,” Dowd, an ABC News contributor, said. “I think this is her saying ‘I’m still a voice in the Republican Party, listen to me’ and that’s what she’s doing. It’s about her getting attention and not much about her running, I don’t think.”
Nuh uhhh… She’s got to get in it. She has to make a credible run (even though she knows fully well that she will lose) in order to maintain her relevency. If she chooses NOT to run I can see the speaking engagements drying up very quickly and her FOX appearances becoming less and less. She is not a Newt Gingrich (no where near as smart)and thus unable to hold her own. Yet, make note…even Gingrich has thrown his hat in the ring (twice)in order to keep himself in the public eye. He’s not stupid.
Sarah Palin’s strength is riling up the base and moving ticket sales. At this she is excellent only because she presents herself as “the one” who can affect change. If she doesn’t run (or run for something) she’s done.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | August 11, 2011, 8:52 am 8:52 am
See is a voice of the people regarless if she runs or not. Much more a voice of the real world than BHO and his band of liberals.
Posted by: Albert | August 11, 2011, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Palin is reaching her sell by date, which expires at the next election. If she doesn’t enter the race she is done and if she does enter the race she will lose badly and she is done. Either way she is done.
She is most definitely not ‘the voice of the people’. Check the polls if you don’t believe me.
Posted by: WhatIThink | August 11, 2011, 10:26 am 10:26 am
I Don’t think Sarah Palin will run for president.
As far as what Matthew Dowd said, I find it surprising that still today 3 years after an election, George does not see anything currently going on in our economy or in Afghanastan as President Obama’s fault.
When does anything become President Obama’s fault? When should American’s expect him to begin to lead?
Posted by: Lisa | August 11, 2011, 11:28 am 11:28 am
It’s about attention – DUHHH!!!!! There’s an astute observation.
Posted by: joi_g | August 11, 2011, 11:29 am 11:29 am
That is a good analysis.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | August 11, 2011, 11:54 am 11:54 am
She wont win if she runs, She is seeking media attention, and she is getting it. In this case she wins.
Posted by: Patty | August 11, 2011, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
It’s all about the money, honey. And the fawning attention of the crowds… and the reporters covering her… especially the media chasing covering her…
Posted by: ---->>> ZING!! | August 11, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Ah right, and Matthew Dowd really knows what’s going on in Palin’s head. Like any of the liberal pundits are in Sarah’s circle.
I think Sarah Palin is trying to get her feet wet in Iowa this weekend. If she does get into the race, then she can tout her record as Governor compared to the other canidates’records. And hers is better than any Governor that is running. Just look at the states’ own statistics.
Second, she can clearly tell the American people that this is what happens when you have a Community Organizer become President. Barry has no clue when it comes to being an executive which she has certainly done. Or for that matter, a private business.
Third, when Bary was continually voting present on votes in the Illinois Senate, Sarah Palin ran a family business, made decisions as City-Council Member, Mayor and as a Governor. See, she had to make a decision while he didn’t.
Fourth, Barry used his left-leaning friends to get everyone off the balot so he could win his State Senate seat. Sarah did it by working hard. She didn’t cheat like he did.
Fifth – Palin had to work hard to be able to afford college even being in a beaty contest while Barry Obama got into Columbia and Harvard by a quota.
Sixth – Barry was able to go to a very expensive private high school because his grandmother was a VP of a local bank and got him into the school. While Sarah Palin’s Dad was a science teacher for the public schools.
Posted by: Helen | August 11, 2011, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
$arah Paylin…………… chuckle
Posted by: Toby | August 11, 2011, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
We, The Good People of America, LOVE Very Much Our Next USA President, Sarah Palin….
Posted by: Carl | August 11, 2011, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Most of American People are Waiting For The Best LEADER to FIX The Economic Crisis as USA President and That LEADER is:
Sarah Palin
Posted by: Carl | August 11, 2011, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
It is all about getting attention, She is playing with the people while laughing all the way to the bank.
Posted by: speakup4truth | August 11, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
It’s a non-story; move on to something relevant.
Posted by: Findlay Way | August 12, 2011, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Sarah, stay home, do something useful. Many of us are tired, tired, tired of you.
Posted by: D. | August 12, 2011, 1:56 am 1:56 am
She can’t run. She has too many skeletons to hide.
Posted by: Walkersun | August 12, 2011, 8:24 am 8:24 am
Helen – are you serious? Your belief in the words of Rush and other Rightwing talking heads is a real problem for America. We can’t have an honest debate about how to fix the problems we face; in order to honestly debate, we need to use FACTS. That is a word and ideal that FauxNews veiwers lack.
Posted by: tunetown152 | August 12, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Standard Liberal “talking down” comments, just like they do about all Republicans and especially Sarah Palin.
SARAH PALIN ROCKS!
With TOTAL Media Hate and ZERO advertising she is 3rd in ALL POLLS.
She is by far the “most electrifying” politician out there today.
She gets my vote and financial support.
Way to go girl….knock ‘em dead!
Posted by: Patrick | August 12, 2011, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
George,
Why do you continue to promote Matt Dowd?
He is a self-promoter whose observations are not original.
Get some new material…please!!
Posted by: Blue Texan | August 12, 2011, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Too much “I think” this, “I think” that, in the article; he’s hedging. I KNOW she’s not going to run. I see it and I can call it, why can’t the author? I should be writing these articles, not him. I can even tell you why she won’t run and what in her syntax gives it away (that she isn’t running). She’d love to win, but she knows she cannot, not smart enough. Either are those that believe in her, which is why they cannot see her limitations–they have same or worse. Not judgmental, just observation.
Posted by: NadineLynn | August 14, 2011, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
To those Palin supporters on this thread, honestly she has no chance to win. Bachmann and Perry are already soaking up the tea party supporters. Democrats are hoping the GOP chooses a tea party extremist, so that independents will flock toward Obama in the general election. GOP, if you want to win in 2012 go with a moderate.
Posted by: Avariel76 | August 23, 2011, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Sarah Palin is just a fad that seems to be going out of style and fading away… thank God!
Posted by: Cool Thug | August 27, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm