What else do you call a person who will not see what is directly in front of their own eyes? Palin was not forming state-level campaign organizations nor was she gathering the necessary signatures in each state to get on the ballot.
That information was right in front of the eyes of every Palin supporter. It was shouted from the rooftops. Yet, they did not believe it. They had faith that she’d run... and that was all that mattered.
And the level of attacks against those that pointed it out rivaled that of the Spanish Inquisition.
So what else would you call them? Informed citizenry? No, deluded fool is a more apt term.
And simply having faith that something will happen despite all evidence to the contrary is very much like a cult. Hence the reference to ‘worshipping at her altar’.