Excluding Palin from the GOP convention: Big mistake?

Sarah Palin ended weeks of speculation on Sunday when she confirmed to Fox News that she will not be speaking at the Republican National Convention later this month. Palin stole the moment in 2008, when she took the stage to accept the nomination as Sen. John McCain's running mate, but, this time round, she's said in a statement that the gathering to formally nominate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, will be a "good opportunity for other voices to speak." McCain will make an appearance, as will former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Will Romney regret not getting Palin to plug his candidacy, too?

Romney should beg Palin to take the stage: Whatever the reason for Palin's absence, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, "it's a mistake to keep her off the dais." Not only is it simply polite to give the last ticket's No. 2 a chance to say a few words, but Palin proved in 2008 that she can electrify the convention floor. "Few people in the party can fire up the grassroots like Palin does," so, if there's still a slot open, Romney should offer it to her.

"Palin not speaking at Republican convention?"

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Palin is not a good fit: The last thing Romney insiders want is for Palin to overshadow their candidate at his big event, says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. Besides, "it's no big secret that Palin has not exactly been an enthusiastic Romney supporter." Until he picked Paul Ryan — who makes many Tea Partiers swoon — as his running mate, she hadn't even issued a convincing endorsement. Still, it won't help Romney if Palin's supporters see her exclusion as "a snub."

"It's official: Sarah Palin not speaking at Republican convention"

The GOP has moved on: Palin can still "pick candidates and work grassroots wonders," says Taylor Marsh at her blog. But let's face it: With Ryan, the GOP's updated version of Ronald Reagan, on the ticket, "there's no place for her at the power table." Today's GOP has Rice, Haley, and other serious "Republican female stars" to rally the troops. Palin's "brand of bloviating" is so 2008.

"The incredible shrinking relevancy of Sarah Palin"

Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.