No offense, but that's the worst political analysis ever.
Palin would have presented her position--in my mind, she could easily say something like she supported him, but didn't campaign for anyone in that race--and those who like her would see her point, and those who hate her would jump on it, and then next week they'd be bitching about some other thing.
Sticking to one's political beliefs is admirable; actively working for someone who stands for many of the things you're not makes her just another go-along to get-along insider. I can overlook that in this case, but she had an opportunity to say "We can't keep up this 'Pelosi is a nice lady' crap--all the back-slapping Washington stuff is why we're here today."
I don’t see the media leaving the story alone, I see it as becoming an all consuming tale of Sarah Palin, John McCain and the 2008 race, the Republican party, and the it would have dominated much of 2009 politics and 2010.
The half of the voting public that proudly voted for that ticket would be confused and feel betrayed and feel as though the two candidates had been hiding their true motives in the pursuit of the White House and self aggrandizement.
Sarah Palin would never have been able to simply demure from the reelection campaign of the head of her ticket, Palin dodged a bullet as someone who is good at political analysis said, Rush Limbaugh.
The general public would not be flocking to the Republican brand if they thought the party was cynical, duplicitous and in disarray and that the 2008 ticket had been a sham.