Opinion: Sarah Palin’s father admits that his daughter’s prospects look dim

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Our own Seema Mehta caught up tonight with Sarah Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, who is watching the election returns roll in at the McCain-Palin election night party at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Here is her report:

Heath’s eyes grew teary as he acknowledged that his daughter’s prospects looked dim.

‘It doesn’t look good,’ he said. ‘Whatever happens, happens. The consolation is we need her in Alaska. I have a lot of mixed feelings. The numbers don’t look good.’

But ‘she has a lot to do in Alaska, a lot of things to finish up,’ he said.

Noting that he coached her in basketball, cross country and track and field during her youth, he said she had an ‘iron constitution,’ perseverance and work ethic.

He declined to comment on reports that the campaign muzzled her, but said, ‘She can sell herself. That’s how she became governor. She got out and talked to people, and they knew she was honest and sincere.’

He also declined to comment on whether she might seek the presidency in four years, but as we ended our conversation, he said, ‘See you in 2012!’

-- Seema Mehta