Does Palin want senate seat in advance of 2012 presidential race?

The world has not seen the last of Sarah Palin (pictured back in Alaska today). Many US commentators believe that the defeated Republican vice presidential candidate will make a bid for the presidency in 2012, and to firm up this plan she will first try to upgrade herself from her present job as Governor to Senator.

Although the final result has not been called, it looks like the current senior Senator for Alaska, Republican Ted Stevens, may have kept his seat in Tuesday’s election, despite the fact that he was found guilty barely a week ago on seven federal felony charges for failing to properly report gifts worth more than $250,000.

Stevens, 84, is the longest-serving Republican senator in history and officially the highest-ranking senator. But his future depends on the success of his appeal, and although there is little precedent, few expect him to remain in his job if his felony conviction is upheld.

Which is where Palin comes back in. She could be the key beneficiary if Stevens either resigns his Senate seat or is expelled. Under Alaska law, Palin, as Governor, would have to call a special election to choose his successor - and the pundits say she could well decide to stand herself.

However, her hopes may be dashed by a wave of feeling against her in the Republican high command. The New York Times claims that her detractors will try and undermine her over the massive clothes bill she incurred while on the campaign trial. According to two John McCain advisors, Palin had been told that she should buy three new suits for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in September and three additional suits for the fall campaign. The budget for the clothes was anticipated to be from $20,000 to $25,000.

Instead, in a public relations debacle, the bills came in at about $150,000, including charges of $75,062 at Neiman Marcus and $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue. It is felt that an internal party audit could dent the self-styled ‘woman of the people’ image she has put across to the media.

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