As the Republicans’ 2008 vice-presidential ‘running mate’, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin energised an otherwise lack-lustre ticket. Although Senator John McCain generally secured the respect of Republican supporters, Palin won their enthusiasm. In earlier years there might have been some suspicion among grass-roots conservatives of a mother of young children on the campaign trail, but Palin symbolised a more abrasive and assertive form of conservatism that stressed traditionalist social values. In particular, her commitment to charismatic faith and her opposition to abortion drew out those associated with the Christian right to act as neighbourhood campaign organisers and to go to the polling places.
Although the McCain–Palin ticket went down to defeat and Palin was remorselessly criticised by Democrats for her inexperience, an unsuccessful vice-presidential bid can still provide a basis for a later presidential run. All the evidence suggests that Palin is now looking towards the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. In July 2009 she resigned the Alaska governorship, giving herself the freedom to devote herself more fully to the campaigning process. She can still command the enthusiasm that she generated in 2008 — aPew Research Center opinion poll found that almost three-quarters of Republicans regarded her favourably. According to the same poll, only just over half had a favourable opinion of the other names thought to be in the ring, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich.
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