This plays right into the Democrat's hands. They realize that Sarah Palin is a formidable personality and they fear her - so they criticize and mock her while pushing phony polls that put her way behind other Republicans (Huckabee, Romney) that they know can't defeat Obama, thus effecting the desired result of persuading voters into believing that Palin isn't 'qualified' and "shouldn't be president". Then Republixcans start buying into the meme and the Democrats work is done. Come 2012, the GOP nominates some bland loser who supposedly appeals to 'moderates' and independents but leaves the electorate unimpressed, even with his alleged 'qualifications'. Obama had almost zero qualifications and it didn't stop him.
Sarah Palin has a successful governorship on her resume which is far more impressive than Obama's state legislature stint (voting 'present') and very brief, unproductive time as a U.S. Senator. Like Obama, Palin has charisma and people tend to notice her. Palin's conservative ideology and 'walk-the-walk' lifestyle, her All-American back story and her energy combine to make her far more likely to demolish an Obama attempt at re-election than some bland Republican 'moderate' that the public has already rejected.
Palin may not be the GOP's 'savior'. She may not even chose to run for the presidential nomination in 2012. However, I hope she does. Despite these phony polls that conveniently show has-been Republican politicians as more desirable candidates than Sarah Palin, I believe the MSM is simply doing what they always do - the Democrats dirty work; attempting to destroy Sarah Palin's image with prospective voters so that by 2012, she either will be marginalized or simply opt out of running for the GOP nomination. Too bad that some Republicans will think this is a good thing while they back another 'moderate' loser. When will the GOP ever learn?
While not disagreeing with much of what you said, I'm not sure that the "polls are phony". Leaving the CNN poll aside, I've seen several Rasmussen polls the last several months that reflect an unease with Palin, not just amongst the general electorate, but within Republican ranks as well. Last month, Rasmussen - whom I'd describe as an accurate polling group - released a poll that placed Palin a distant third to Huckster and Romney.
It's equally clear that the wider perception of Palin amongst Republicans and conservatives is that she reflects their general principles, it's not clear why Palin isn't enjoying commensurate support when measured against other possible Republican Presidential aspirants. Perhaps there's some unease amongst Republicans about Palin's ability to win, perhaps it's something else altogether. Palin has an opportunity in this press tour to stop the bleeding and perhaps even change some minds. We will see how she fairs.