Alaska Gov. Palin Faces Increased Scrutiny Post-Election; Abortion-Related Bills On Agenda

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 19 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Washington Post on Wednesday examined how Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) run for the vice presidency during the 2008 election and her hints at a possible presidential bid in 2012 have altered her relationship with local lawmakers and increased scrutiny of her policy positions, including on two antiabortion bills reintroduced in the state Legislature. Palin has expressed support for both measures, but there "have been no signs yet of any hard push from the governor's office," the Post reports. According to the Post, state lawmakers from both political parties wonder if Palin will "feel compelled to invest more political capital" in the two bills, "given her new stature among social conservatives who are urging her to run for president." However, Joe Balash, one of the governor's closest aides, said that is unlikely. He added that it would be "great if we could consider every issue in a vacuum, but we can't. That doesn't please everyone."

According to the Post, Palin's approval rating among Alaskan voters remains high at above 60%, although it has dropped slightly since the election. A "number of factors seem to have contributed to the bumpy homecoming," including the economy, anger among Democrats for the "attack-dog role" Palin had in the election, possible anger among Republicans for the role she may have played in the defeat of running mate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a "suspicion across party lines" that her advocacy for Alaskan interests "will now be secondary to her future in national politics," the Post reports.

Meanwhile, Palin's family life "continues to make headlines." In an interview with Fox News Channel's "On the Record," Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol -- who gave birth in December 2008 after an unintended pregnancy -- said that abstinence among teenagers is "not realistic at all." Gov. Palin, who opposes abortion rights, supports abstinence-only education (Leahy, Washington Post, 2/18).

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