This is the 18th article in a weekly series looking at possible 2012 presidential contenders. Click here to learn more about the series.
It’s hard to believe that former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) became a household name only two years ago. Since then, she has dominated the airwaves to become at least the second most talked about political figure in the nation.
Many pundits – including MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and the New York Times’ Frank Rich – believe she will be the Republican nominee in 2012. But does Ms. Palin have the seven traits all eight winning presidential candidates have had since the beginning of the 24/7 media age in 1980?
She definitely has many of them. She has a clear message, is well-aligned with constituent concerns regarding the size of government, is comfortable in her own skin, and uses everyday language. She also does a good job of articulating her vision for the country within an optimistic frame, as she does in the below clip:
“We know we need common sense. We know we need experience in the Oval Office. We know we need someone who believes in time-tested truths and a restoration of all that is good and exceptional about America…I mean, this is about the future of our country. This is about all of our children and our grandchildren, and their opportunities and the hope that they should be able to embrace because they are Americans. And yet much of that hope is eroding because of government policies and decisions.”
I’ll review Ms. Palin’s communications flaws and give her a grade below.
Although Ms. Palin did a good job of communicating an optimistic message in the above clip, her propensity for starting street fights with such regularity threatens to undercut her more positive message.
In just the past few years, Ms. Palin has publicly feuded with David Letterman, Katie Couric, fellow Republicans Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scott Brown, Karl Rove, Barbara Bush and John McCain’s campaign staff, Michelle Obama, Levi Johnston, a state trooper, neighbor Joe McGinniss, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, actress Ashley Judd, the “lamestream media,” bloggers, and American Idol contestants.
Finally, speaking everyday language often helps candidates, and the public doesn’t hold garbled words against a presidential nominee – just ask George W. Bush. But Ms. Palin’s propensity to create media gaffes could reinforce a perception of not being ready for the presidency. For example, the mangled syntax she used toward the end of the above clip is almost comical:
“I want to help clean up the state that is so sorry today of journalism. And I have a communications degree.”
Independent voters demand optimistic language from their presidential candidates – consider Ronald Reagan’s “Morning in America,” George H.W. Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light,” and Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can.”
If Ms. Palin can abandon her public feuding and focus on speaking the optimistic language independents demand, she has a chance. But since the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, I doubt she can.
GRADE: C+
To see the other candidates I’ve reviewed so far, click on their names: John Thune, , Haley Barbour, , Jeb Bush, Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels, Bobby Jindal, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Chris Christie, Gary Johnson, Jim DeMint, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama
