Aug 27, 2010, Friday: Boston Herald

Experts: Sarah Palin’s shot won’t damage Scott Brown

This ain’t Alaska, Sarah!
By Hillary Chabot and Jay Fitzgerald
Friday, August 27, 2010 - Updated 3 hours ago

The rogue-vs-rogue ruckus between GOP superstars Sarah Palin and Scott Brown could be a political boon for the Massachusetts senator, according to pundits who say Palin’s jibe that he’s a bust in conservative Alaska can only burnish his upstart image in the blue Bay State.

“Scott Brown is probably doing cartwheels after Palin’s comments - they’re laughable and only bolster his appeal,” said Mike Harrington, a GOP political consultant who worked on Brown’s campaign.

Ed Morrissey, a blogger at the conservative Web site Hot Air, said Palin’s quip that Alaskans “wouldn’t stand” for Brown’s moderate votes will boost the senator’s prospects for reelection come 2012.

“To get re-elected in Massachusetts, he will have to make the case he’s not a right-wing ideologue - and she is the leading right-wing ideologue,” said Morrissey. “She’s distancing herself from Brown, and that makes his life a lot easier.”

Palin tore into Brown during a segment on Fox Business Network Wednesday when asked about his voting record. Brown has sided with Democrats during key votes such as the financial reform bill.

“Perhaps they’re not going to look for such a hard-core constitutional conservative there, and they’re going to put up with Scott Brown and some of the antics there,” Palin said of Bay State voters.

“But up here in Alaska, and so many places in the U.S. where we have a pioneering, independent spirit, and we have an expectation that our representatives in D.C. will respect the will of the people and the intelligence of the people. Well, up here, we wouldn’t stand for that.”

Brown’s communications director Gail Gitcho brushed off Palin’s barbs, but avoided confronting her head on.

“Senator Brown’s votes are based on what’s in the best interests of Massachusetts and he has made his priorities job creation, controlling spending, and reducing the deficit,” said Gitcho in a statement. “All Republicans can agree on that.”

Some Bay State Republicans privately called Palin “politically toxic” in Massachusetts - adding that Brown is better off without her. Others who spoke publicly attempted to spin Palin’s comments as proof Brown remains politically independent.

“This validates Scott’s approach,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones (R-North Reading). “He’s voting an awful lot like he said he was going to vote.”

One local Tea Partier, however, thinks Palin was speaking the truth.

“I think her assessment is accurate,” said Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party. A self-described Palin fan, Varley said she still supports Brown but she’s disapproved of some of his votes.

Said Varley: “Sen. Brown might find himself behind the curve of how quickly Massachusetts is tacking right