The Woman from Wasilla, Too Wacko for New Jersey?

UPDATE, John McCain on Sarah Palin:

"Look, whenever there's a political campaign -- and I've been involved in them for many, many years -- there's always tensions within. You know, when you -- how -- with a high-pressure situation, there's always tensions that develop within campaigns. And there were clearly tensions between Steve Schmidt and people in the Palin camp.

There's -- there are fundamental facts, though, that cannot be denied. When we selected or asked Sarah Palin to be my running mate, it energized our party. We were ahead in the polls, until the stock market crashed. And she still is a formidable force in the Republican Party. And I have great affection for her.
Will Sarah and I -- did we always agree on everything in the past? Will we in the future? No. But look let's let a thousand flowers bloom. Let's come up with a winning combination the next time. We -- and -- and let's -- let's all go through the process, rather than condemning anybody's chances. And I'm happy to say we have some great people out there, and Sarah is one of them."

First, he lost me when not fighting back hard enough in regards to the attacks on him and his adopted child during the South Carolina primary coming from Karl Rove and George Bush; Secondly, when he embraced and asked for forgiveness from the unChrist-like acting mainstream, homophobic evangelical preachers on the right; Thirdly and lastly, when he picked the woman from Wasilla to lead our country as vice president.  My thoughts are it was a partisan slap in the face to all God-fearing, true Americans.  Sarah Palin - Great Person?

Jonathan Martin has a good piece in POLITICO.com about Sarah Palin and her support for GOP Gubernatorial candidates.  Specifically,  New Jersey where he says that when asked if they had invited Palin, Chris Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella's one word answer was "No." When pressed as to why, Comella said that Christie wanted to focus on Gov. Jon Corzine.
Hmmm.  We know that Palin is terrifically popular with the Republican base.  During the campagin last fall she routinely outdrew John McCain in crowds and intensity.  Remember the chants "Go Sarah Go!" and "Drill Baby Drill!"?  Why would candidate Christie not want her help here in Cumberland County and the rest of the state?
Could it be that the New Jersey Republican party fears she would draw the wrong kind of attention?  Would the most popular Republican in the last election alienate voters?  "Privately, Republican aides fret that a Palin appearance with their candidate could offend swing voters who are turned off by the polarizing Alaskan."  "A prominent rally with Palin could easily send the independents to the Democratic candidate, and at the same time, she could motivate the Democratic Party base to turn out at a higher rate," explained University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato.
“Why would they want to embrace a national message that goes backward as opposed to forward?” asked veteran GOP strategist Chris LaCivita, referring to last year’s presidential campaign. “She could be more of a liability than a positive. That’s not a criticism about her persona, but just the dynamics of these races.”
In New Jersey — where President Barack Obama won by 15 percentage points last year — it’s not even a close call.
“I don’t think Palin is ever going to fix her problem,” said veteran Democratic strategist Jim Jordan. “She has created her own image. And she’s just anathema to swing voters and a figure of ridicule.”
Jordan predicted that in much of the country, Palin would become much like Hillary Clinton was in that 1993 race.  “I can’t imagine a year from now that she’s invited to that many places,” he said. “And if she is, she’ll be that classic character where people will try to sneak her in and out for a fundraiser. They’ll do everything they can to avoid being photographed with her.”
Sounds to me more like Dick Cheney and George Bush in the 2006 election.  Several local Republican sources say "If she appeared with Christie, "She'd do more damage than good."  Pretty tough stuff coming from people on her side of the isle thought by some to be a candidate for president for the Republicans in the next election. 
The woman from Wasilla too wacko for New Jersey?  When will they get a leader that can represent all people, and not just the fringe elements of their party?
Read more.