DISTURBING NEWS FOR SARAH – AT 8:52 A.M. ET: Sarah Palin may be testing the waters in Iowa this week, but the political news from home is bound to create a major embarrassment for her, and raise doubts about her political viability. From the Anchorage Daily News:

A new Hays Research poll shows Barack Obama would beat Sarah Palin among Alaskans if the presidential election was today.

The poll found 42 percent of Alaskan voters would pick or are learning toward Obama in a head to head race against Palin for the presidency, while 36 percent of the voters would choose or are leaning toward Palin over him.

Conservative Anchorage radio host Mike Porcaro paid for Hays Research to ask the question.

“Sarah Palin showcases her Alaska roots at every opportunity, but the surprising reality is she has become highly unpopular in her home state,” Porcaro said in an emailed statement.

“Whether it is the fact she left office after serving barely two years or that some Alaskans believe her tax policies have punished our vital oil and gas industry or the ‘rock star’ nature of her media coverage, these results show Sarah Palin would lose to Obama in Alaska, where voters overwhelmingly support conservative candidates,” Porcaro said.

As the article points out, Alaska hasn't voted for a Democrat in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. 

COMMENT:  Sarah Palin, whom I admire in many ways, is paying the price for some unwise decisions, especially her decision to resign as governor to become a highly paid media celebrity.  She may well have a future in politics, but I hope she sits out the 2012 election, regroups, and gets a better sense of direction. 

June 30, 2011