Palin backs Terry Branstad

[ccharles000]

Sarah Palin endorsed former governor Terry Branstad in the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary Thursday, breaking with several conservative leaders who have backed the former governor’s primary opponent.

Branstad, who led the state from 1983 until 1999, has support from most of the state’s GOP establishment and a double-digit lead in primary polls over businessman and conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats.

Vander Plaats, though, has tallied support from several religious conservatives, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose 2008 presidential campaign he chaired in the state, and actor Chuck Norris. Thursday, Vander Plaats picked up the backing of evangelical leader James Dobson.

Announcing the endorsement on her Facebook page, Palin wrote, “Iowa, your great state’s motto is ‘Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.’ That motto will be well served by voting for Terry Branstad for governor next Tuesday!”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38109.html

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Kiss of death for Plaats then.

[Beaverhausen]

2. Why? I thought Palin was batting zero when it comes to endorsements

[provis99]

4. she is batting zero. Branstad is going down for sure, now.

A Palin endorsement seems to be the kiss of death for conservatives, thank goodness.

[rurallib]

3. Here is how bleedingheartland sees it (BIG mistake, Sarry)

This is probably the most read and reliable of Iowa blogs:
http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4012/sarah-palin-just-made-a-big-mistake

Sarah Palin just made a big mistake
<snip>
Vander Plaats campaign manager Eric Woolson told the Des Moines Register,

"I think that she's seriously damaged her 2012 presidential prospects," <...> "This says to me she's either not running for president or she doesn't understand Iowa very well because she has just alienated herself from her natural base. If you look at her Facebook page, all of the comments are saying 'Terry Branstad? Really?'"
<snip>
Let's look at how various outcomes in the governor's race would affect Palin.

If Branstad wins the primary easily, Palin will not get credit, because she didn't do much for him.

If Branstad wins the primary narrowly, many social conservatives will be angry that she helped him even in a small way.

If Vander Plaats surprises us all and wins the primary, everyone will know that Palin's endorsement carries no weight with social conservatives. Even Branstad supporter Craig Robinson admits, "if Vander Plaats pulls off an upset next Tuesday, a potential caucus campaign would become exponentially more difficult ."

No matter what happens in the primary, Republicans who voted for Vander Plaats or Roberts will remember that Palin did the politically expedient thing instead of standing up for the principles she outlined in her own book.