Top 5 Sarah Palin Myths

How well do you know Sarah Palin? The former governor of Alaska is more than the caricature dreamed up by Saturday Night Live, argues Matthew Continetti for the Washington Post. "The real Sarah Palin is a complex woman who has risen in no time from obscurity to the stratosphere of American politics, fusing celebrity and populism in novel ways." His list of some common Palin myths, debunked:

• Palin cost McCain the 2008 election: Not so. McCain suffered from an "enthusiasm gap" well before Palin was on the scene, Continetti says. "With her by his side, McCain's fundraising and support from conservatives improved."

• Her decision to resign as governor was rash and shortsighted: It wasn't a frantic reaction to an about-to-break scandal (none materialized). This was a well-considered choice, writes Continetti. "If Palin had remained governor, she would have been denied opportunities to rally the tea party and fight in the battle over the Obama agenda."
• Palin is uneclectable Yes, she's massively unpopular among Democrats and some Republicans. But that may change. "If Palin works hard and runs an impressive campaign, wavering Republicans and skeptical independents may give her a second look," he writes.

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