Sarah Palin May be Poised for 2012 Run for President

Win or lose, some say, after the election next week Sarah Palin will have her sights set firmly on the presidential election in 2012. Many political experts are projecting her as the early favorite to be the Republican nominee for president in the next election.

Given the tumultuous campaign experience she is currently having, including charges from her home state of Alaska of misappropriating state funds and abusing the power of her office, that idea might seem a little far-fetched to many. But supporters of the idea point to her charisma and her ability to excite and motivate the Conservative Right, which forms the foundation of the Republican voting base.

The interesting aspect of the idea is that Palin might be well-positioned for a 2012 run, regardless of the outcome of this election. Even if McCain wins, some experts think that the 2012 campaign will focus on many of the "traditional American" values with which Palin seems to be closely aligned. And it seems unlikely that McCain would attempt a second term, given his age.

And while the media and the public may be viewing Palin as more of a hindrance to the McCain campaign, Palin supporters and some objective political observers see the situation as reversed. It is McCain who is holding down Palin in this election. Free to run her own campaign and move to the forefront of a ticket, Palin would be able to draw in even more support, perhaps grabbing some of the independent and undecided voters that Barack Obama seems to be drawing toward his camp in the current campaign.

In any event, the next four years are likely to be far more important for Sarah Palin's political future than the next seven days. Regardless of the outcome of the November 4th election, Palin will have four years to establish herself as a leading Republican figure and could possibly be holding the Republican nomination for president the next time around.