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GOP Governors Reluctant To Embrace Palin For 2012: She Is Not ‘The Future Of The Party’

The media haven’t been able to get enough Palin 2012 speculation in the run-up to her speech today at the Republican Governors Association (RGA) convention. In almost every interview with GOP governors over the past couple days, hosts have been asking them their thoughts on a future presidential run by Palin. These governors, however, have been less than enthusiastic to embrace Palin as their future candidate:

CNN: So let me ask you point blank, governor. Is she the future of the party?MARK SANFORD (SC): I don’t think I’d define it that way. [11/13/08]

TIM PAWLENTY (MN): She [Palin] is going to be one of the voices that will help lead the party for months and years to come, clearly. … I also think it is too early to be talking about 2012. My goodness, we just had an election. People are sick of that. [MSNBC, 11/12/08]

FOX: What do you think her future is?HALEY BARBOUR (MS): Well, I think the future she’s talking about is 2009 and 2010. [11/13/08]

MATT BLUNT (MO): I think Republican governors were surprised when she [Palin] was selected, but at the same time they were impressed. … There are a lot of great candidates out there for 2012. I don’t think the American people want to — want to hear much about that at this point.[Fox News, 11/13/08]

MSNBC: So broad hints there from Palin again today with reporters, certainly with Matt Lauer. Is that the solution?JON HUNTSMAN (UT): The solutions are going to be many-fold. You can’t look to one personality in particular. [11/12/08]

Watch a compilation:

Yesterday at the RGA convention, many of these same governors and other top GOP figures were reluctant to say that they would have been comfortable with Palin as president.

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Some leading conservatives may also be getting jealous of all the attention Palin is receiving. When Newt Gingrich — who is also rumored to be eyeing a 2012 run — was on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes last night, he listed the names of governors who have the potential to “rebuild” the GOP. Gingrich never once mentioned Palin’s name until Hannity pointed out that he had been one of her earliest backers. Gingrich simply replied, “Well, she’s now become, in many ways, a national figure. I’m curious to see what she’ll decide to do.”