Sep 12, 2011 2:22pm

Fred Malek: ‘Too Late’ for Palin to Run; GOP Nominee Will Be Perry or Romney

Could Sarah Palin still compete for the Republican nomination if she wanted to?

Maybe not, longtime Republican operative (and occasional Palin adviser) Fred Malek told us on ABC’s “Top Line” today.

While Palin may be the one candidate for whom traditional candidacy rules don’t apply, the Republican presidential race appears to have settled into a contest between Gov. Rick Perry and former Gov. Mitt Romney.

“She could pick up a lot of support going in. But I think it is too late. I think the field is set, and I think it’s a great field,” Malek told us. “I think our nominee and the next president will be a governor. And I’m thankful for that.”

Beyond whether it’s possible for her to compete, Malek said it would be a bad move for Palin to try and run.

“I think it would be really, personally, not a good move for her. She’s doing a very, very good job on the circuit. She’s making money for her family, she’s having influence on people nationwide, she’s having influence on the race. I think anybody who gets the nomination is going to want to have her support because she energizes a lot of people.”

“I don’t think she should get in, and I don’t think she will,” he added.

Malek, who is active as a fundraiser for the Republican Governors Association, said he’s “very happy” with Perry’s entrance into the field. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., “will continue” to fade in the race, leaving Perry and Romney as the main contenders.

“I think that Rick Perry has a very big lead right now, and it’s going to be difficult to surmount that,” he said.

But he suggested that Perry needs to modulate the way he talks about Social Security, particularly to appeal to voters in the critical primary and general-election state of Florida.

Even if he believes the program is a “Ponzi scheme,” Malek said, he’d be better served to talk about how he wants to fix it.

“I think raising the issue is good. Now he’s gotta come up with a solution because I think people are looking for a solution to how do we salvage this program, how do we save it for everybody,” he said.

User Comments

Malek is just another inside the belt way type who is backing another candidate, naturally he doesn’t want Palin to get in and upset his apple cart. If it is “too late for Palin” why are so many still pushing Christie, Ryan and Jeb Bush to get in, isn’t it too late for them as well, or are there special rules when it comes to Palin?

Posted by: gah | September 12, 2011, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm

That’s the best laugh I’ve had this month. It’s a great field of people running. HA! More like a pile of clowns and a couple of decent contenders. I just hope the Republicans get it right when they make their pick. This nation has had enough idiots and morons running as Tea Party hopefuls, just give us a REAL candidate please.

Posted by: demnme | September 12, 2011, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm

Hello America, do you recall the last time Obama wanted a speedy healthcare bill? he and Nancy Pelosi bullied through the congress their Obamacare fiasco, now most of us instead of having healthcare coverage, we are now the proud owners of a $5000 dollar deductible. that is what speedy legislation got us last time so say no to Obamas speedy wateful spending plans. and, can Mitt Romney delver 11.5 Million new jobs? well we know that Barrack Obama cannot deliver even one job, so what hope does Romney have of delivering 11.5 Million Jobs? I would say highly unlikely. so the better solution is to repeal Obamacare, roll back Federal Payroll deductions to 1940′s levels, eliminate most, most of the unneccesary Federal Pork barrel programs, such as Shrimp Treadmill research, recover the $60 Billion dollars unaccounted for given to Afghanistan and Iraq rebuilding, redue the 1040 form and make it fair for everyone. those are the most logical solutions, so please contact your congressman or woman and have them say No to anymore Obama Bailouts and No to a $400 Billion Dollar speedy package. is it too late for Sarah to Run? certainly not, I’m willing to run to Canada myself, anything to get away from Barrak Obama’s Whitehouse, sincerely Fezzy Bear.

Posted by: Fezzy Bear | September 12, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm

This guy breaks the existing record for contradicting himself:

Question: Is it too late for her (Palin) to get in… ?

Malek: She’s probably the one canditate for whom it’s not exactly too late. She could pick up a lot of support going in but I think it probably is too late… .”

And you wonder why many /americans are beginning to just toon out the pundits: they either make
absolutist statements based on their political biases or they hem and haw and play both ends against the middle.

It’s an easy question, Fred. It’s either too late (in your opinion) forPalin to jump in or it’s not and the answer “Not, really, but probably” doesn’t really anwer it.

And what the hell does the amonut of money she’s making having to do with some arbitrary deadline? Would it be too late if she was dirt poor or would the window still be open.

Posted by: Viper1 | September 12, 2011, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm

Palin is toast and she really doesn’t want to be president. She just wants to mouth off from the sidelines and count her money!!

Posted by: Justuspofolks | September 12, 2011, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm

She a waste of space…

Posted by: Jacqueline Alexander | September 12, 2011, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm

I love Obama’s BS put aside politics pas my bill! What a crock! He just keeps lying, making excuses, and playing leftist playbook tactics. The man has no clue, and does not give a damn about America. He is incompetent. Can’t you see? Don’t you understand yet? What is your problem? Wake up drones!

Posted by: Doc Vega | September 12, 2011, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm

Never too late for Palin to run….to run as far away as she can from the game of politics!

Posted by: Anna | September 13, 2011, 12:10 am 12:10 am

Sarah can take over right now and the USA would prosper.

Posted by: Jim Dep | September 13, 2011, 1:16 am 1:16 am

Palin threw her two-cents into this fray last night as she know she must keep up this false bravado of maybe, maybe not! Last night’s gang-bang on president Obama, and she wanted to have her say.

Posted by: Rudy Gonzales | September 13, 2011, 7:44 am 7:44 am

Is it to late for Palin? Tell you what, have her put on a 2 piece bikini and I’ll take a look.

Posted by: Brian | September 13, 2011, 7:59 am 7:59 am

she needs to stay home and make sure her daughter does not have another unwed baby.

Posted by: john ruchirushkul | September 13, 2011, 9:35 am 9:35 am

Its to late for Palin to run for president, but it’s not to late for her to run and kiss a polar bear. LOL

Posted by: Revrobcolon | September 13, 2011, 11:04 am 11:04 am

She was too late the moment McCain in his infinite wisdom had choosen her as a running mate! llIntellectually, it has been a downhill slope for her ever since! Those of equal intellectual powers are the ones paying to hear her talk and buy that silly book! It did not take even a failed rocket scientist to figure that one out!

Posted by: Don Crosswhite | September 13, 2011, 11:34 am 11:34 am

Palin will not run because she’s a quitter…

Posted by: Andre' Jack | September 13, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

It’s too ;late for Sara because the “Good Ol’ Boys club have been ganged up on her from the beginning, but it isn’t just Sara, it would be any woman who chose to run. The powers that be just can’t stand the thoughts of handing over that “power” to any woman.

Posted by: Peggy | September 13, 2011, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

The whole Republican pot is tainted. They are all out to break Obama, not fix the country. The GOP doesn’t have a sensible, compassionate person to run, so they scraped the bottom of the barrel to come up with these idiots!

Posted by: Lorrie | September 13, 2011, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm

It’s not the “good ol’ boys” that are keeping a woman from being prez, it’s the women theirselves. I can think of a lot of women that would certainly qualify, but have not put their self forward YET. Who in their right mind, would want either Palin or Bachman? Neither one has the qualifications to run this great country! All the rest of the candidates are numbskulls except perhaps Mitt. You notice I said “perhaps”, as I have not heard much from him that leads me to believe he is greatly qualified either.

Posted by: Sharon Seiber | September 13, 2011, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

It has always been too late for Mrs Palin

Posted by: Allan | September 13, 2011, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm

Sarah Palin is a true American of principles and courage. She will do what is best for the country she loves- she may not run for the nomination but if she does I will cheer her on. If she is chosen to challenge Obama and the inept elite crooks in Washington, myself and everyone I know will vote for her- and guess what – she WILL win.

Posted by: Miriam | September 13, 2011, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm

SARAH PALIN WILL RUN and SHE WILL BEAT OBAMA in 2012 !!!

YOU BETCHA!!!

Posted by: Carol | September 13, 2011, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm

Palin is not going to run…Her Job is to run around pretending like she is….But pretty soon no one is going to care and she’ll be out of a pay check, then what is she going to do?

Posted by: justayreal74 | September 13, 2011, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm

@Miriam…and you think Sarah Palin is not a crook? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ROTFL!

Posted by: justayreal74 | September 13, 2011, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm

Who cares to what the republicans saying about Sarah Palin being “Too Late’ to run for GOP Nominee, when they should have said that Sarah Palin is NOT qualified to run for office. Alaska, like Hawaii is not really part of the United States even if they did join the statehood. Also, Sarah Palin’s leadership is too vague to be considered for office, Personally, also her lack of knowledge in America’s economy is another reason to why it would be better for someone who has a little more perception of how the American economy usually works to be fully qualified to serve as leadership. ANd she would probably support more what the former President George Bush did when he wrongly sent American forces to attack Iraq. And about the creation of jobs, it seems to be a lot more complicated for a politician to do, It jut takes a combination of ideas and problem solving skills. And Obama doesn’t seem to have any ability, like the former Bush to problem solve, though it will take some time to find out.

Posted by: anibet | September 13, 2011, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm

I seriously doubt she wants to be President. I’d bet she wants to be VP though and that’s what she’s angling for.

Posted by: ransom | September 13, 2011, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm

I am a staunch liberal and hope that Palin runs and gets the nomination. What more could the Democrats ask for?

Posted by: Gracie | September 13, 2011, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

72% of Republicans don’t want Sarah to run. About 90% of Democrats do want her to run. Sarah is so stupid that does not understand what that means. Can somebody from her family please explain it to her?

Posted by: EffortPA | September 14, 2011, 6:06 am 6:06 am

Reading these critical comments on Sarah Palin that range from doubtful to absolutely cruel demonstrates the truly caring and sensitive nature of Democrats and liberals NOT! To tolerate the irrational attacks that this woman has had to endure is absolutely uncharacteristic of American values. Yet, when these rabid hate mongers question her credentials and voice their hostility in answer to her courage, devotion to America, and her service as a Governor and city councilwoman this simply typifies how far our nation has fallen when good is labeled as evil and evil is embraced!

Posted by: Doc Vega | September 25, 2011, 10:50 am 10:50 am

One commenter above said that Sarah Palin was unqualified and did not have an understanding of economic reality. Oh, like Barack Hussein Obama, a junior senator of 143 days was even remotely qualified to be president? I think his miserable track record already demonstrates that truth Could Sarah Palin, who by the way, was a state governor, was in fact better qualified then our lying charlatan, Obama, but the citizens of this country were obviously too ignorant and captivated by a supreme egotist to be able to comprehend reality. Palin with her record as governor being able to balance the budget and resist unnecessary expenditures clearly demonstrated her ability to grasp economic considerations. Yet, we have an insane divisiveness in America between the informed who support conservative principals and the brainwashed liberals who see themselves as progressive when in truth they simply suffer from the audacity of falsehood!

Posted by: Doc Vega | September 25, 2011, 10:57 am 10:57 am

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