Playing to Palin's Base

David Frum suggests that Sarah Palin isn’t making much of an effort to reach urban voters. But why should she even bother trying?

David Frum suggests that potential 2012 GOP contender Sarah Palin isn’t making much of an effort to reach out to urban voters. Let me play devil’s advocate on this one: Palin isn’t making much of an effort because a) she has no legitimate shot at attracting the support of urban voters and b) the GOP’s strategy for the past 50 years has been to concede urban voters to the Democrats and focus on attracting exurban and suburban voters. If Palin cannot possibly attract urban support, why even bother trying?

Yes, the GOP “acted stupidly” by writing off the urban vote in the 1960s, but history can’t be changed -- and even if it could be, Palin certainly isn’t the one to do so. Palin’s sole chance at winning in 2012 is by maximizing the exurban and suburban vote. She does not have the ability to woo urban voters from the Democrats -- and she obviously knows it.

Originally published at em>Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene<.