Reading Todd Purdum’s explosive story on Gov. Sarah Palin in Vanity Fair, I’m struck by this section:

Sarah Palin is a star in Evansville and all the many Evansvilles of America, but there is a big part of the Republican Party—the Wall Street wing, the national-security wing—in which she cuts no ice. At the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference, Palin essentially came in tied for second with Governor Bobby Jindal, of Louisiana, and Representative Ron Paul, of Texas, with 13 percent support in a straw poll of potential 2012 presidential candidates; former governor Mitt Romney, of Massachusetts, got 20 percent. A more recent survey has Palin in a three-way tie with Romney and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. She could do well in the Iowa caucuses or South Carolina primary, but it is much harder to imagine her making headway in New Hampshire, where independent voters were turned off by her last fall.

Purdum’s rationale for why Palin won’t be a serious contender in 2012 is exactly the reason why I suspect she will. Her outsider status was compelling to the Republican base before, and the fact she remains an outsider even after being the GOP’s vice presidential pick should continue to give her hope. Palin might turn off moderates and Independents, but they won’t decide the primary.

Mitt Romney did not appeal to the conservative base first time around. The Republican establishment could try to shove Romney down the base’s throat, but they may not enjoy the results. Palin, for all the problems she has with being accurate and truthful, is lightyears more real than Romney, who was admittedly more liberal than Ted Kennedy before he ran for President.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Purdum’s story unintentionally helps Palin. It reads like an attack piece and will help to reinforce Palin’s assertion (which is popular among conservatives) that the left-wing media is out to destroy her because she’s not part of the establishment.

By the way, referring to Palin as “It” in the title was probably not the best idea.

Whether this piece helps or hurts will be determined by Palin’s response. What will it be?

Sample 1: The left-wing media is out to destroy me because I’m not part of the old boys’ club. - This would work.

Sample 2: Todd Purdum is a “scumbag” and a “real slimy guy.” - This would be bad.