A Vanderbilt University Tennessean survey has found that Tennesseans are "lukewarm" on the subject of President Obama, but that they "prefer him slightly" to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in a hypothetical 2012 presidential contest. While anything is possible in the world of politics (something that anyone who is involved in political work at any level learns very quickly), the idea that a President who has proven to be one of the unpopular ever within Tennessee could suddenly rebound out of nowhere and carry the State in less than two years does seem a bit far-fetched. Who are not often polled in these kinds of surveys are the political activists within both parties. Democrats are very likely stuck with President Obama in next year's Presidential Election whether they want to be or not, but Republicans just might have a crowded primary field to choose from.

Many in the media are saying that Sarah Palin, the GOP's 2008 Vice Presidential nominee, could be the 2012 frontrunner, but no one is asking whether or not Palin is really the best candidate for the job. This writer has always been fond of Sarah Palin. In 2008, when she was chosen as Arizona Senator John McCain's running mate, it was me who said she was an excellent choice. The biggest problem with Palin is that she left office at the height of post-election pressure on her, and that spoke to whether or not she could handle the pressures of the presidency. The press has been especially unfair to Sarah Palin's family, and never seemed to understand that her very American family was the attraction to so many people. Those kinds of pressures, however, were going to be brought to bear on a family like the Palins, and it is something that just goes with the territory of being both a State and a national figure. Palin was elected to serve as Governor of Alaska and was duty-bound, unless she was incapacitated, to finish her term. Her failure to do so spoke volumes about her ability to handle the pressures of the White House.

Perhaps this is why Palin's overall numbers still show that she may not beat an unpopular President in Tennessee. Tennesseans have never been much on giving up.