Democrats hate her; Republicans are conflicted by her.
She’s been in the public eye for little more than a year, but to call her a lightning rod would be an understatement. She’s Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and 2008 GOP nominee for vice president.
This week begins her intensive media blitz in support of her quickly produced autobiography “Going Rogue: An American Life” which hits bookshelves Tuesday.
As bios go, Palin received a rather modest advance — about $1.25 million — not up in the Bill Clinton-George W. Bush-universe.
However, if her book becomes a bestseller Palin will do quite well for herself.
(On the same day, liberal critics of Palin will release a collection of essays that cast the ex-governor in a less positive light: “Going Rouge: Sarah Palin, An American Nightmare.” Beware: The cover is intentionally patterned after Palin’s own book.)
Well, with the aid of two of the best-known female TV interviewers in history, Palin guarantees that she won’t lack for publicity.
Tomorrow, Oprah Winfrey kicks things off with a sit-down that is more than a year in the making: After endorsing Obama in the spring of 2007, Winfrey made a point of saying that she wouldn’t interview Palin — or any other politicians — during the campaign. But in a case of absence making the heart grow fonder, the prior controversy will help both women, increasing the chance of a ratings blowout.
Expect Oprah’s questions to focus on Palin’s balance of family and career. Expect Oprah to ask about Levi Johnston, father of Palin’s grandson, and his modeling for Playgirl’s Web site. Possible questions: 1) Does Palin feel that Levi is trying to hurt her with these sort of stunts? 2) How is Bristol holding up, caught in the middle between her mom and the father of their child?
Just a few years back, Oprah had a lengthy Cold War with David Letterman. Look to see if she and Palin, who went after “Late Show” host for perceived unfair jokes against her daughters, have something of a bonding moment in light of Letterman’s recent scandals
ABC’s Barbara Walters will then take a crack at Palin on the book’s release date of the 17th on “Good Morning America,” the first of a five-part interview that will also appear on “Nightline,” and “20/20.”
Because of her identification with “The View,” it’s easy to forget that Walters was once a hard-news veteran. So, Barbara is more likely to try to “make news” with a few harder-edged questions, such as: 1) What’s the real reason you decided to quit your job as Alaska’s governor? 2) Will the “quitter” label haunt you in a future run for office? 3) Are you considering running for president — or just using the possibility to push the book? 4) Was Bristol and Levi’s “engagement” real? 5) What would a Sarah Palin health-care plan look like?
Expect some gripping television when the ladies mix it up. You’ll either be drawn-in and informed — and learn what makes Sarah Palin tick — or you’ll be unable to look away from what could be a televised train wreck. Either way, consider yourself entertained.
Robert A. George is a Post editorial writer. Write him at rgeorge@nypost.com.