Mississippi Gov. and Chair of the Republican Governor's Association, Haley Barbour, seemed like he wanted to get off the topic of Sarah Palin as quickly as possible on Meet the Press yesterday.
Real Clear Politics has the xcript:
GREGORY: Sarah Palin got involved in that race, she endorsed the independent conservative. What role does she play right now in the Republican Party?
GOV. BARBOUR: Well, she doesn't play any official role in the Republican Party, but a lot of people care about her, a lot of people are fond of her and she's like a lot of other politicians who are very well-regarded in our party.
GREGORY: What, what do you think of her?
GOV. BARBOUR: I like her.
GREGORY: Is she...
GOV. BARBOUR: Don't always agree with her. But, you know, my wife doesn't always agree with me, either.
GREGORY: But is she, does she an important Republican leader, in your book?
GOV. BARBOUR: Oh, I think she is. I think she's got something to offer. One of the great things...
GREGORY: Right. Do you think she could be president?
GOV. BARBOUR: One of the great things about when your party's out of power, you don't have a spokesman.
GREGORY: Right.
GOV. BARBOUR: You have a lot of--I don't want to say let a thousand flowers bloom, but you have a lot of different people, and that's healthy for your party.
GREGORY: Do you, do you...
GOV. BARBOUR: The Democrats do that when they're out.
GREGORY: But does she--do you think she speaks for the party?
GOV. BARBOUR: I think she speaks for herself, just like I speak for myself.
GREGORY: Do you think she could be president?
GOV. BARBOUR: Look, it's a long way away from there. Every time, every time people ask me about president, I remember them, David, any Republican who cares about the future of our country needs to be focused on the elections of 2010. Those are the elections that matter. We'll worry about president after 2010.
One more thing -- what's the sudden cache with Mao? Barbour borrows the thousand flowers blooming thing, and back in May, Jon Huntsman did the same.
[Hat tip: Conservatives4Palin]
