Sarah Palin's father admits that his daughter's prospects look dim

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

Comments

[Hilary]

I love Sarah Palin! She's the reason I voted republican. I can't wait to see her in 2012

[midwestmidwife]

Hillary, You scare me...

God Bless America & may God Bless Senators Obama and Biden!

[chris]

Palin was a joke from the beginning and when repubs start looking at why they lost, look no further than the poor judgement shown by McCain to try and manipulate disavowed Hillary fans by picking an idiot woman who could never measure up to Hillary.

[Snappy]

Good riddance to her. She's scary.

[paulette altmaier]

I can't share the father's sentiment. As a republican, I am ashamed of the divisive campaign she waged. Palin's twisted vision of the 'real America', the 'pro-America parts of America', the 'patriotic parts of America', was unpatriotic and destructive. I wish she would stay in Alaska, but I know she will be back, and I will vote against her again in any election in which she runs.

[Mike]

Sarah Palin will go back to Alaska, continue to generate record-high approval ratings - at a time where politicians are almost universally hated - and study away at all-sorts of political issues. She now becomes the front-running Republican, the new face of the party. Come 2012 she will be a much-more sharpened, battle-ready candidate with probably a gained mastery of domestic and global issues. As a McCain-Palin supporter I am loooking forward to supporting her in the future if she decides to try running for president...

[Micheli]

Sarah's father only wants to see the good in his daughter..
Palin is neither honest or sincere..

Palin has been in a popularity contest up until now..
Palin is great at pandering and appearing as though she cares about others ..but this woman is in it for her own ego and nothing more..

Obama/Biden 2008

Goodbye Sarah...we will not miss you...

[Charis]

Let me ask a simple question... why is Sarah Palin completely hated by the news media, and by others who don't agree? This is a free country, with a right to an opinion, but for God'ssake let's not go beyond civil respect and completely obliterate a candidate just because we don't agree! Thanks everyone!

[leona]

her desperate speeches were full of hate. She was so vicious in the latter stages of the campaign, well representing the evangelicals I guess.

[Modest Republican]

Sarah Palin cost us the presidency. She is a liability to the GOP.

Senator McCain could have done a much better job by choosing Gindal (Louisiana) or Polenti (Michigan).

The fact that she is eying the white house for 2012 scares me and disappoint me. It is obvious that the GOP leaders are not "getting it".

I am very disappointed but I will get over it. I look forward to seeing what Obama has to offer.

E.

[Jim G.]

As a commenter on another blog said, if she is the best that the GOP can do in 2012, then run her...

[verne]

When the 'misfits and buffoons' that voted for BO begin squawking how much they have to pay in taxes they'll remember the day they voted into office a social architect bent on drilling into everyone's wallet.

Thank God for the 48 mil voters that had sense to vote for McCain/Pain.

Verne
California

[Mar]

Why such hatred against Sarah Palin? maybe because she represent respect for life. She will be back , so all the people that are so judgemental against her be ready.

[Kelly Parker]

Why do we like to hate Sarah Palin? Because she represents everything that is WRONG with America, she lies, she's a religious wingnut, and she is a DIVIDER, not a uniter. How does Obama explain her to his own daughters? "She doesn't mean all the nasty things she's saying about Daddy and terrorists.. it's a campaign, so she's just saying nasty things and stretching the truth to make people hate me so she'll get to be prom Queen!"

Good riddance to bad campaigning.

[Sonya]

Goodbye Sarah. This was the most divisive campaign and I agree with John McCain. The fault is all his for picking this space cadet for VP. I will vote against Sarah Palin in any national election she dares go for in the future. (I voted Obama). No way will I turn over the keys to the White House to a person who took 6 years, 5 schools, to get a 4 year undergraduate degree from a 2nd rate school. The White House is no place for a person who can't even name a newspaper she reads. Go back to Alaska and stay there.

[Kevin]

Regardless of your poltiical stripes, a Palin admin is a horrifying thought. Thank the Lord it isn't close to being even the slightest bit possible. She lost the election for McCain and thinks she can run as #1? What a joke...

[Kevin]

"When the 'misfits and buffoons' that voted for BO begin squawking how much they have to pay in taxes they'll remember the day they voted into office a social architect bent on drilling into everyone's wallet.

Thank God for the 48 mil voters that had sense to vote for McCain/Pain.

Verne
California"
Um, you are either completely ignorant on the facts or a bold-faced liar. I am not a democrat but his tax plan effects about 2 percent of the population. So no, not "everyone's" wallet, just the elite top 2-3 percent.

Do some homework or stop lying. Whichever the case may be...

[Chris]

It's a good thing they/she lost - she is a wolf in sheep's clothing, caring nothing about anyone except herself - truly a legend in her own mind. I feel kind of sorry for her.

[bart starr]

...Sarah is my man in 2012.

...she is an honest, down-to-earth well qualified person to occupy the White House in 2012.

...barack & mccain are part of the U.S. economic problem.

...my IQ and accomplishments? ask Einstein.

[William]

Why is Sarah Palin hated? 1.) Because every time she gave a speech she sounded like she was running a KKK rally and drummed up racial hatred and fear. 2.) Because she was self-centered as witnessed by her tons of makeup and very expensive wardrobe. 3.) Because she was stupid. If you actually LISTENED to her beyond hearing her twangy accent, she didn't make any sense: her sentences didn't make sense...she was just all blah blah blah but no substance at all. I voted Obama/Biden, but nevertheless, John McCain is a good and decent man, and that moron diva cost him the election. That's what he got for picking her to be his running mate - poor decision...HORRIBLE. Sarah Palin can go back to Alaska, but after what the Alaskans saw and heard of her themselves, I doubt they even want her. What a complete embarrassment she is!

[Marlene]

Oh my gosh...I cannot believe anyone would want Sarah Palin representing them for anything. She believes in a total lack of science...yes, Sarah, there really was an earth more than 8000 years ago and Adam and Eve didn't ride dinosaurs!
I want new leadership that isn't bent on pushing religion down our throats ( just a smoke screen anyway), does understand that we humans are causing enviromental changes that affect animal and plant life and we need to take responsibility and won't get us into a sham war based on lies of either WMD or we'd better get them before they come get us.
I want a president that cares that a large part of the population has no health care, cannot afford medication, cannot afford the cost of college, has lost their home because of someone else's greed, has lost their job either because of someone's greed or outsourcing..or is that the same thing? I want a president that cares that the war on drugs isn't working and that there is a better way..see what European countries are doing. In a country where CEOs make 40 million dollars or more, we have people living under bridges. That's shameful!
It will be so refreshing to actully hear a president that can speak instead of the bumbling of the idiot we have had for the past 8 years. I am ashamed of the people that let this administration get us into this war and financial crisis.