Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has hinted that she might consider a third party run for President in 2012 if the Republican party does not become conservative enough for her taste.
Were she to do that, it would create a real “wild card” in the 2012 race, as there is no doubt that she has a base of supporters, fanatical enough to wait up to twelve hours to meet her at a book store and have her sign their copies of her best selling memoir.
Palin could really harm the GOP were she to bolt the party in 2012, and assuredly, it would help President Obama’s reelection campaign.
It could be that Palin realizes that the Republicans would be extremely unlikely to nominate her for President, so she might take the third party route. Conceivably, she could be a third party candidate who could win one out of every five voters nationally, as Ross Perot did in 1992. But it is highly doubtful she would win any electoral votes.
But again, the Republican party nominee would be likely to be harmed heavily by a Palin third party candidacy.