Already Looking Ahead to 2012

Senior McCain officials told FOX News reporter Carl Cameron that Sarah Palin didn't know that Africa was a continent--not a country--and that she did not know what countries were involved in the North American Fair Trade Agreement.

If these allegations are true, then all I have to say is "wow!" It is hard to believe (well, maybe not that hard) that this person was almost our Vice President and they didn't even know that Africa was a continent.

These leaks are just another example of the infighting between McCain officials and Sarah Palin's handlers that took place towards the end of the campaign and is clearly continuing after the election. In that time, McCain officials have called Palin a "diva" and a "hillbilly," among other things.

Many McCain officials and supporters are blaming Palin for McCain's loss on Tuesday, and it appears that there is a massive power vacuum within the Republican Party.

Based on what Palin has hinted at as well as her popularity with the conservative base of the Republican Party, it seems likely that she will run for President in 2012. And the more post-election blame-game and infighting there is, the more it hurts her chances in four years as well as the public's perception of her.

I know it seems a bit early to be talking about 2012, but two possible Republican candidates seem to disagree. Mike Huckabee will be visiting the state of Iowa--where the 2012 race for the nomination will begin--in 14 days. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is largely expected to run in 2012 and is seen as a rising star in the party, will be visiting the state two days after Huckabee.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll taken of Republicans right after Barack Obama was projected to be the next president of who they would want as their nominee in 2012. Mitt Romney won with 31%, Huckabee came in second with 21%, and Sarah Palin came in third with only 18%.

I know its a long time away, but it will be interesting to see if the Republican Party moves more the right or more to the center with their party platform and standard-bearer for the 2010 and 2012 elections.