Va. Gov: Locals wonder about Palin's future...

Republican Sarah Palin grabbed some headlines over the holiday weekend when she surprisingly announced her resignation as the chief executive of Alaska.

The move was totally unexpected in most political circles and with the usual news-void over a holiday weekend - it made for a great topic for chatter. Since no one really knows what's going on inside Palin's head a lot of people are taking pot-shot guesses and what's next for her. And there were plenty of local folks out there wondering just why Plain is stepping down and what it means to her budding national profile.

Virginia voters might get a close view real soon.

Republican Bob McDonnell is running probably the most closely watched GOP campaign in the country this fall - and he's bringing in a lot of big-time Republicans to help bolster his credentials and ignite some fires at the grassroots level. McDonnell has toured with for Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney - who many believe is building a organization to run for president again in 2012. McDonnell is also going to be leaning on the muscle at the Republican Governor's Association to take down Democrat Creigh Deeds. 

We've already seen the Democratic Governor's Associationgoing after McDonnell on the campaign trail in a big way - so it's not a stretch to expect some heat from the RGA as the campaign matures.

That leads us back to Palin and how she plots a path forward. Obviously she'll be able to make a healthy living booking speaking engagements with conservative groups and especially evangelical Christians - where she retains a huge amount of popularity. Palin can probably demand some big fees because she is such a draw in different parts of the country and because she basically went from nobody to hot topic in less than a year. That sort of rocket speed means that most folks around the country have only gotten a glimpse of her on the campaign trail when she was heavily managed and enduring a breakneck schedule.

An unleashed Palin - free from the reins of the GOP VP mantle and the top spot in Alaska - would probably be a very interesting speaker.  

Palin could also probably land a gig over at Fox News - it didn't take long from them to snatch up Mike Huckabee and Palin would probably make for a major ratings spike.  

So how does someone like Palin stay in the news while making the rounds to conventions and events that are typically behind the veil? 

In Virginia, Palin would likely find rich territory for political wrangling. If Palin visits the buzz will surround her intentions and her connections with the GOP base, and what better way to speak directly to the base than giving a commencement address at Regent University in Virginia Beach of Liberty University out west?

Both schools would probably be happy to host Palin - and the stage would give her a microphone to get into the national political discussion. Romney spoke at Regent to clear the air about his Mormon faith, Rudy Giuliani spoke there and got the endorsement of Pat Robertson, and John McCain spoke at Liberty to make up for calling Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance."

It'll be interesting to see how McDonnell handles Palin on the campaign trail because of the potential for blow-back. McDonnell obviously wants to get the support of folks who back Palin - that's his base - but he also doesn't want to lose out on the middle-of-the-road voters who usually end up deciding elections in Virginia.

No doubt, McDonnell's team knows that Palin comes with a oversized "handle with care" warning, just ask McCain.

Comments

[Neil B ♪]

Here's another point that hacks like Hannity failed to note when heaping praise on Palin's bizarre "decision": They pick on Barack Obama for staying on and paid as Senator while "not doing any work" because he was running for President. Well, John McCain was a Senator too, and he didn't quit! He suspended his campaign for a few days, but stayed a Senator. Well?

[Elaine]

Dean, Mr. Obama had been elected president, Mr. Biden had been elected vice president, Ms Clinton had been named secretary of state. Sarah Palin is resigning to become??? Promoter of her ghost-written book? Speaker getting high fees? Television personality? Who knows...

[Dean Cockrum]

Sounds like alot of what if too me. Guess Obama, Clinton, Biden did not quit in mid term of their Senate post huh. Right now only Palin knows why she decided to resign, so speculate all you want on why and what are her plans. BTW I don't think she has said she would speak for McDonnell, nor does he need to handle with care her decisions, that is plain silly to attempt something that might not happen.

[Neil B ♪]

Cal, "handle with care" and Palin being handled too much (some times) are not contradictory. I take seriously most of what McCain's campaign staff said about her.

Also, I'm not very impressed with her rationale for quitting ("Iquitarod") such as it is. Even if a case could be made for leaving an office to seek a higher office, it is silly to quit this long before the next Presidential election. She could easily have served her term (like she promised to this January, in the "grizzly with cubs" speech.) It just doesn't make sense, and she never really explained what she was doing or planning, or why. It was just a bunch of mixed and oft' contradictory metaphors.

[Cal]

"No doubt, McDonnell's team knows that Palin comes with a oversized "handle with care" warning, just ask McCain."

Is this an unbiased statement? I think not. Palin backers will point out that some of the problems she and the campaign ran into were primarily because SHE WAS BEING HANDLED TOO MUCH.