Palin Backers Set Up Legal-Defense Fund
The Wall Street JournalSupporters of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will announce Friday the creation of a legal-defense fund to help her pay old legal bills, respond to a rash of ethics complaints and perhaps give her a political boost.
The 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate — and possible 2012 White House aspirant — has about $500,000 of legal debts, stemming in part from investigations into efforts to fire an Alaska state trooper who was her former brother-in-law. A legislative investigation found that Gov. Palin abused her power in the matter, but a subsequent investigation by the state Personnel Board concluded she could not be held responsible. Additionally, supporters say, about a dozen new ethics complaints have been filed against Ms. Palin in the past four months, as the governor has come under increasing scrutiny from the national media, Democrats and liberal activists.
“The purpose is really to provide a legal and proper way for the governor’s supporters to help her respond to these frivolous complaints that have been leveled, keeping her from being able to do her job and…really harassing her,” said fund trustee Kristan Cole, a real-estate agent and longtime friend of the governor from her hometown of Wasilla.
Donations will be capped at $150, which means that it has to receive massive support if it wants to make a difference.
Although the poll published earlier today shows that Palin is not exactly the most popular Republican nation wide, she can count on tremendous passionate support. Most Romney supporters, for instance, are lukewarm. They support him, but they are not talking about how great he is every day, nor do they compare him to Ronald Reagan or any other heroic Republican president.
Palin’s supporters, however, are extremely passionate and loyal. They remind me of Barack Obama’s base; they too came to his rescue constantly last year, and were extremely generous donors.
This fund will undoubtedly be a resounding success; perhaps that is exactly what Palin needs. She needs to improve her image and she has to show that she can count on massive support.
Michael,
You’ve got to read that poll a lot more carefully. Here’s what it says:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_423.pdf
Favorables/Unfavorables Among Republicans
Palin 76/18
Huckabee 67/18
Gingrich 64/20
Romney 60/21
Favorables/Unfavorables Among Conservatives
Palin 67/20
Gingrich 59/18
Huckabee 56/18
Romney 54/19
Favorables/Unfavorables Among Hispanics
Palin 48/38
Gingrich 43/33
Romney 33/29
Huckabee 29/43
I suspect that Palin’s legal defense fund will take in more than enough to pay off both her current legal bill, and any future legal bills resulting from frivilous “ethics” complaints originating from 0bama supporters in Alaska. Palin will be reporting both the donations to SarahPAC and Alaska Fund Trust in July. This will essentially be the poll to watch. In the first quarter of this year Romney raised over $500,000 in the first two months of this year, and will probably raise about $2 million by the end of June. SarahPAC has not been real active as of yet, except for internet ads, and two mass emailings. I suspect SarahPAC will outraise Romney, and Huckabee combined, maybe event 2 to 1.