FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The race for the Republican nomination for president is finally starting to get interesting.
Tt looks like it's shaping up to be a three-way race among Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann - whose campaign was fueled by her victory in the Iowa straw poll. Texas Congressman Ron Paul also remains a player following his strong second place finish in Iowa.
And now - the big question mark remains whether Sarah Palin will decide to make a go for it.
The half-term, dropout governor of Alaska managed to steal the spotlight in Iowa on Friday when she made a surprise visit to the state fair. Palin says she thinks there's "plenty of time" to jump in the race... and there's "plenty of room for more people."
Maybe so - but she said all that before Bachmann went on to win the straw poll.
It's worth pointing out that there's a lot of overlap between Bachmann and Palin supporters. Both charismatic women are tea party favorites who appeal to anti-Washington and Christian conservative voters.
And it's no small feat that Bachmann won the straw poll in Iowa, a key early voting state. The Iowa caucuses have been known to catapult politicians to the White House. Does Barack Obama ring a bell?
This all means that the clock is ticking for Palin to make up her mind. Working in her favor: Palin remains near the top of the pack in the polls... and she would be the best-known Republican in the field if she decides to do it.
Also - by waiting until the fall to jump in - Palin could spare herself months of media scrutiny and sparring with the other GOP candidates.
Here’s my question to you: Does Michele Bachmann's Iowa victory make it tougher for Sarah Palin to get into the race?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Valerie in Raleigh:
Where are the electable women Republican candidates such as Kay Bailey Hutchison, a woman of education and intelligence who has a chance to win voters outside of the far-right Tea Party group? The Republican Party gives us the likes of Bachmann and Palin who are unelectable to the general voters of this county. Add some of the other strange female Republican candidates such as the one that kept saying she was not a "witch." If you want a Republican win, give us somebody who is electable.
Carla:
With the wild-eyed, the witless, and the weird throwing their hats in the ring, I don't think we can handle the warmed-over wacko from Wasilla, too.
Dave:
Even Sarah Palin isn’t dumb enough to think she can actually win the presidency, so, just like Trump, she won’t try. All she will do is to hang around the TV cameras hoping to get more free publicity and give stupid answers to intelligent questions. She is pathetic. And by the way there’s nothing charismatic about Palin’s screechy voice which has no connection to what serves as her brain.
Greg in Arkansas:
Sarah Palin is nothing more than pre-race entertainment and thinking that she is getting into this presidential race is like believing the celebrity singing the national anthem is going to get into the Indianapolis 500 race as a driver.
Tammie on Facebook:
I do not think Palin ever wanted to be in the race. I think she likes all the free media attention. It helps to sell a lot of books.
Tom:
But which one is Lucy and which one is Ethel?
Bryan in Colorado:
Really? Is this stupid question Monday or what?
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