Washington (CNN) - Sarah Palin issued a warning to Mitt Romney Saturday, calling on the former Massachusetts governor to do a better job explaining his record to conservatives or risk dampening voter turnout in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.
In an interview with CNN and The New York Times before her speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Palin said she was confused by Romney’s declaration here on Friday that he was a “severely conservative Republican.”
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“I wasn’t quite sure what the word 'severely' meant,” Palin said.
She said Romney and his two main rivals - Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich - should be given time to explain the flaws in their record until the Republican National Convention in August, when she said the nomination fight could ultimately be decided.
But Romney may have the hardest sale to make, she said, asking him to explain his “shifts in ideology” since he left the Massachusetts governorship.
“You have to have the tea party patriots enthused and energized in order to win this nomination, and more importantly in order to defeat Barack Obama,” Palin argued.
If conservatives are “dismissed and they are marginalized” by the Republican establishment, “they are going to be much less enthused and much less willing to put it all on the line for the GOP candidate in the general election.”
“We can’t afford to have low voter turnout in the general election, and that is all the more reason for Romney to really start connecting more with conservatives,” she said.
Though she has spoken warmly about both Gingrich and Santorum, she said she was still making up her mind about which candidate to support.
Her Fox News contract does not prohibit her from weighing in on the presidential race, she said.
Palin said she would not encourage any of the candidates to drop out of the race, saying it’s “not yet” time for Gingrich to step aside and allow Santorum to rally the conservative vote.
She also welcomed the possibility of a brokered convention in Tampa.
“I don’t think that it would be a negative for the party, a brokered convention,” she said. “And people who start screaming that a brokered convention is the worst thing for the GOP, they have an agenda. They have their own personal or political reasons for their own candidate, who they would like to see protected away from a brokered convention. That’s part of the competition, that’s part of the process. And it may happen.”
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Palin needs to get with the program and support Romney instead of playing games with losers like Gingrich and Santorum.
If he listens to this egotist loser he is dumber than I thought.
Will willard have the guts to respond firmly?
No.
Sarah palin is an idiot! Give me a break who in the world would listen to what she has to say? I know another idiot.
if someone severely unelectable as Palin gives an advice, its gotta be severely a joke.
You have to feel sorry for the Grand Old White Party! The powerful and comfy echo chambers of Fox News, Talk Radio, and Drudge, haven't been very good for their reasoning or critical thinking skills! These candidates aren't running for the President of Conservatives or President of the T Party, but for POTUS. Say what you will about Obama, but the guy is a centrist. He throws his base under the bus now and then, its called leadership. After seeing these clowns like Palin, Trump, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Newt, Santorum, and Romney, Obama will easily have this independents vote this fall.
Is she saying that for conservatives to merely leave their homes and vote they have to "put it all on the line"? As for Sarah being confused? She confusesd me every time she tries to say something. I'll wager that 2+2 confuses her.
If he worries about that small minority of voters who have done a great job of screwing up this country he will lose the election hands down. He needs to worry about the majority of swing voters out there that know what going on not the conservatives who have never known what has gone on. The country has been on a downhill fall since Ronald Reagan became president. Period more poor less income for most except for the elite that were granted tax cuts by the conservatives, oh who by the way sent so many of our jobs to China. If you want made in America which everybody seems to say why would you vote for a conservative republican. They have exported more usa jobs than china has exported goods to the usa might be a little off but you get the idea.
Why is she back? She is so yesterday's news.....Very few care about what this street smart but anti intellectual thinks..
Umm, when did Sara Palin become relevant again? Opps, pardon me. Was she EVER relevant? Yawn. Move along, nothing to see here folks.
The shrill (R) Christian cheerleader can really spread the fecal matter on thick. She and Ann Coulter make a wonderful pair. Such good Christian ladies. Both nothing but "Not meant to be factual" entertainers making thousands speaking.
what did sarah do with her superpac money? u know the one she asked for more money a week before quitting even though she knew a week before she quit she was quitting.....
Romney... work harder or they will vote for Obama!!!
Palin is like the last pick in the NFL draft= Irrelevant!!!!!
I would just like Mitt to actually state what his plans are and what he represents. Every statement he makes he backtracks and flip flops on literally every issue. So far the man is nothing but a sock puppet that will repeat the thoughts of whoever shoves their hand in the deepest.
how many jobs has the bush tax cuts produce
Glen Rice! Go Sara.
LARRY STEVENS. Ego fumes - I love it. I'm still laughing.
Former Gov. Palin is relevant because of what? **crickets** **crickets** **and more crickets**
Is she back from the dead or the bank? Who pulled the string to allow this bimbo to talk?
There's a village in Alaska missing their idiot and I think I know where she is...
Yea Romney – listen to nutjob Palin who brought down McCain with her stupidity, extremism, and lack of knowlege on any issue. Of course, McCain picked you to endorse too – so guess you will lose as badly as he did. The People are tired of rich old white men who demean women, working people, and the poor – the Republican Party is as clueless, arrogant, and full of lying do-nothings with not a single vetted solution as ever. Just keep talking so the nation can see the real you and ensure a landslide for President Obama- a real person with real leadership qualites and a proven record of successes.
Palin is just upset that her Newt wasn't taken seriously at CPAC. Romney has a conservative record as governor. If she's in doubt she ought to look at the 800+ vetoes Gov. Romney made on issues that weren't conservative enough.
This from the woman who drove Republican voters away in 2008.
go away sarah palin, we don't care about you or your opinions. Opps, you are not selling any books or getting TV shows. I guess you have to get back into the limelight