By 2012 the people who’d even consider voting Rep will be so used to much worse “politicians” that Palin will look positively sane and responsible in comparison. If Obama doesn’t “do well” (basically, if the economy is not going to get much better) in the next two years and she’s the candidate, my bet is she’ll win.
Her best strategy is to somehow blame him for the Titanic disaster.
Not only do I think she has no chance in hell, I’d be willing to wager $1,000 right now that Obama would clean her clock if she got the nomination.
TL;DR
It really depends on the state of the economy in 2012 and by the state of the economy I really mean the unemployment rate. If that hasn’t dropped significantly by then, I think any Republican candidate would have a good shot at defeating Obama. I don’t think that Palin has a snowballs chance at getting the nomination though. When she gets torn to shreds by her fellow primary candidates, she (or her supporters) will not be able to play the victim of the mean liberal media.
I wouldn’t scorn you, and I pretty much agree with you, and I’m generally Republican.
I doubt she could win the nomination. But really what’s she gonna say, “No I can’t.” That’s like asking the quarterbacks of two teams in the Superbowl, “Do you think you can win”? And expecting one of them to say “No.”
Sarah Palin: I can beat Obama in 2012
She was confused, I’m sure she was talking about using a stick.
Bare manos, or gloves? Obama plays basketball, so he has the moves. He also has a longer reach.
When Duhbya was President, we were a laughingstock. If Palin were President, the world would know we are insane.
Palin said that the Liberal Media distorts or fails to take into consideration her record. As far as I can see, her record is this: DNF.
Analogy is off. It’s more like asking the QB of a 3-5 team if he expects to win the Super Bowl. Favre at least had the grace, when asked that question last week, to pause and go, “We’ve got a lot of work to do before we even think about that” (paraphrased.) If you’re IN the Super Bowl already, sure, you’ve always got an Asian’s chance of winning it.
As much as I’d like to see Obama win a 2nd term, I think I’d rather not have even the slimmest chance that this person be president.
You never know what can happen. All you need is for her campaign manager to be really good, and some chance, and there you go.
She probably could beat Obama, but she’d withdraw halfway through campaign season in order to better serve America.
Oh, God. You made me realize that both potential outcomes are horrid. I may have to see if my employer will let me stay out of the country for a few more years. 
Donald Trump vs. Sarah Palin in the 2012 rep. primary. (God loves the Democrats.)
The dangerous thing is that Presidential elections are not meritocratic. They are popularity contests dependent upon the capricious will of a largely uninformed, short-sighted and immature electorate. It’s American Idol. Don’t underestimate the stupidity of American voters. If Palin is enabled by the media to control the narrative (as she always is), it’s not out of the question that it could happen.
All Obama (or anyone) would have to do to is flood the airwaves with an ad that simply stated:
“The people of Alaska elected Sarah Palin to lead them, and when the job got hard, she quit. Vote insert name here”
Sarah P. seems more interested in the money. She resigned as Governor to cash in on the speaking tour, book deal, and now a tv show.
I can’t see her walking away from the gold mine for a Presidential run.
It seems like she could be easily discredited in a campaign. She’s said some pretty wacky things.
I doubt she could even win the primary. The RNC would go after her like a bastard step-child, and so would other candidates. Think Bush v McCain.
I saw that headline and giggled loudly. Palin is always good for a great laugh. She’s a soap opera not a serious world leader.
Hey, if her daughter counts as a “star” for being the child of a person in the news and an unwed teen mom and can win Dancing With The Stars then anything can happen in this crazy mixed up kookoo world.