Mark Halperin: How Palin is Like Clinton/Even MSNBC Admits Her Resignation May Not be An Issue One Year From Now

The Palin/Clinton comparison seems to be this week's narrative. Mark Halperin writes in TIME that:Bill Clinton is the best handicapper in American politics. So when, on the eve of his annual Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York City, he assessed the power and peril of Sarah Palin, everybody paid attention. Clinton called the former Alaska governor "tough," "compelling," "attractive" and "resilient" in an interview with ABC News. Those are four traits the former President can appreciate, not least because they have been key to his own success...[H]e singled out Palin's appeal to the kind of economically downscale, nonurban voter for whom he ferociously battled in Arkansas and later on the national stage. Clinton didn't always win over those constituents, but he always courted them. He suggested that Democrats these days have forgotten the necessity of fighting for every vote. For some, Palin might be easy to mock, but her fresh, accessible allure has already snagged a lot of fans nationwide. That's a Bubba 101 lesson for Obama, who talked about "bitter" people who "cling to guns or religion" during the 2008 campaign.Palin is like Clinton in another way: what doesn't kill her only makes her stronger. And as the world gets ready for the midterm elections and the start of the epic contest in which Republicans will pick their champion to go into battle against Obama, Democrats should take heed. Palin, however flawed, is very much alive and, despite what her doubters say, extraordinarily strong. "It's always a mistake to underestimate your opponent," said the master from Hope.Also interesting is that in an article discussing Clinton's purported "renaissance," MSNBC admitted that the Governor's resignation may not be an issue one year from now: Of course, the passage of time and political forgetfulness could end up benefiting others. A year from now -- if she runs for president -- will voters and commentators remember that Sarah Palin quit her job as Alaska governor?

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