Palin tells Republicans to focus on governors in 2010

November 13, 1:46 PMPolitics RoundupJay Keller

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Politics Roundup. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

"We are the minority party," Alaska Gov. Palin
said at a session on "Looking Towards the
Future: The GOP in Transition." "Let us
resolve not to be the negative party."
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

At the Republican Governors Association's meeting on Thursday, the main topic of this year was the sweeping losses in this year's elections and how it might be possible to rebuild the party. The annual event brought some of the party's rising stars, including Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and showcased other likely canidates for the 2012 presidential election.

But, the news coming out of their gathering signals a general blindness to the root causes of Republican losses nationally and locally in the November 4 election, according to Political Issues Examiner Judah Freed. With 21 Republican governors in office after the election, only 16 are attending the Miami conference.

Palin addressed GOP governors on Thursday at the confernece, saying the Republican Party and its leaders should focus on the 2010 gubernatorial races during the midterm elections. Additionally, the former Republican Vice Presidential candidate backtracked on earlier signals of a potential White House run in 2012.

"I, like all of our governors, we're focused on the future," Palin said. "The future for us is not the 2012 presidential race." The Alaska governor would go on to point out that in 2010, there will be 36 contested races.

Video: Palin Tamps Down Talk of 2012 Presidential Run

Either way, Republicans are now facing the prospect of being out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time since 1992. In that prospect, GOP leadership now looks to their governors to fill the leadership vacuum.

If Palin were to run in 2012, she'd first have to mend any ill effects of her tumultuous two months on the national political scene. Additionally, Palin would likely have some stiff competition in any possible 2012 bid. Top rivals include four attendees at annual RGA meeting: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Related Elections 2008 info: 
Meet the new U.S. Senators
Obama elected president
Slideshow: Obama sweeps election
Examiner nationwide straw poll
Examiner Coverage: Elections 2008