Rumors are
circulating that tensions are rife between Sarah Palin
and John McCain, mainly due to the vice-presidential
nominee's "rogue" actions that defy the wishes of the
McCain campaign. Some outlets like
Toronto's The Globe and Mail newspaper
are speculating that, with polls showing her
ticket hard-pressed to win on Tuesday, Palin's actions
indicate her focus has shifted toward becoming a
presidential contender in 2012.
In interviews
Palin has been straying from the McCain campaign
script and speaking off-the-cuff to journalists. Insiders
are saying Palin is concerned about being blamed for a
possible Republican defeat on November 4 and wants to
separate herself from McCain. Some polls have shown
Palin -- with her inexperience and scandal over her
expensive wardrobe -- becoming a liability for
the McCain campaign.
"[McCain's
advisers] are going to try and shred her after the
campaign to divert blame from themselves," a campaign
insider told the website Politico.com on Saturday.
But if McCain
loses and Palin manages to escape criticism for the defeat,
the 44-year-old could solidify her national profile for
future races. Palin was asked by ABC News' Elizabeth
Vargas recently if she would simply return to Alaska
after the election should she lose. Palin responded by
saying, "Absolutely not... I'm not doing this whole
thing for naught."
On The Chris
Matthews Show earlier this week, four pundits
predicted that Palin will run for president in 2012. (Neal
Broverman, The Advocate)