Palin hints at (very late) 2012 run

By Michael J.W. Stickings (@mjwstickings)

Via twitter:

"AP: Palin to Fox Business: not too late for 'folks' to jump in to 2012 race. Said Palin: 'Who knows what will happen in the future?'"

-- Mike Allen (@mikeallen)

Well, Palin is "folks," isn't she?

Look, she's not running. If anyone gets in late, it's Chris Christie -- but only if Romney falters. (Jeb Bush is an option, but there's no way the GOP is picking a Bush in '12.) There just isn't a big-name conservative out there, other than Palin, who has the clout to enter the race at this late date and stand a reasonable chance of pulling it out. And even then, Palin's not terribly popular even with her own party these days. What's more likely is that the primaries divide the Republican Party, with no clear winner emerging, and then a compromise nominee is selected at a brokered convention next summer.

As for Palin, she's just being coy, as usual, tantalizing her gullible admirers and getting herself back out there in the spotlight for the sake of her brand, which of course makes her millions. Like Trump, she craves the attention -- they may be the two biggest media whores in America outside of Jersey Shore.

It's pathetic, but typical. It's best not to listen to a word she says.

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Update: Just to be clear, Palin wasn't just talking generally about a late entry into the GOP race, she was talking about herself, responding to a direct question about her possibly "making a play, even after Iowa or New Hampshire."