Sarah Palin says she is seriously considering a run for the White House, and she believes she could beat President Obama in 2012, the former Alaska governor told ABC News' Barbara Walters.

"I'm looking at the lay of the land now, and ... trying to figure that out, if it's a good thing for the country, for the discourse, for my family, if it's a good thing," Palin said in an interview scheduled to air in full Dec. 9 on ABC as part of Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People" of 2010.

Asked Walters: "If you ran for president, could you beat Barack Obama?"

"I believe so," Palin said.

Although Palin remains undecided about whether to run, the 2008 vice presidential nominee has now made clear in two interviews this week that she is seriously considering it.

In a profile to be published in the upcoming New York Times Magazine, Palin told reporter Robert Draper "I am," when asked if she was weighing a 2012 run. "I'm engaged in the internal deliberations candidly, and having that discussion with my family, because my family is the most important consideration here."

Palin said her decision would involve "evaluating whether she could bring unique qualities to the table," admitting the biggest challenge would be proving her record.

"I know that a hurdle I would have to cross, that some other potential candidates wouldn't have to cross right out of the chute, is proving my record," the former Alaska governor told Draper. "That's the most frustrating thing for me -- the warped and perverted description of my record and what I've accomplished over the last two decades.

"It's been much more perplexing to me than where the lamestream media has wanted to go about my personal life. And other candidates haven't faced these criticisms the way I have."

Palin also addressed criticisms that, by avoiding the media, she is partially responsible for the public's perception of her. "I'm on television nearly every single day with reporters. ... Now granted, that's mainly through my job at Fox News, and I'm very proud to be associated with them, but I'm not avoiding anything or anybody.

"I'm on Facebook and Twitter. I'm out there. I want to talk about my record, though."

The 2008 vice presidential nominee also recognized that, "yes, the organization would have to change. … I'd have to bring in more people -- more people who are trustworthy."

Draper's story, "The Palin Network," details the inner workings of the Palin political machine, which Draper described as a "guerrilla organization."

"The issue of trust informs Sarah Palin's every dealing with the world beyond Wasilla since her circular-firing-squad experience at the close of the 2008 presidential campaign," Draper wrote. "Her inner circle shuns the media and would speak to me only after Palin authorized it, a process that took months.

"They are content to labor in a world without hierarchy or even job descriptions -- 'None of us has titles,' [Palin's political adviser Andrew] Davis said -- and where the adhesive is a personal devotion to Palin rather than the furtherance of her political career."

'There Is No Uber-Strategy'
The lengthy profile (7, 812 words) is accompanied by a cover photo, first obtained by Politico, showing Palin surrounded by a range of advisers, including lawyer Thomas Van Flein, "cybermessenger" Rebecca Mansour, husband Todd and Washington lawyer Robert Barnett, among others.

"The reality is that Palin's direction is determined almost entirely by her instincts -- or, as [Palin's friend and former White House aide to Presidents Nixon and Ford] Fred Malek puts it, 'There is no über-strategy.' She did not game out a path forward when agreeing to two book deals with HarperCollins and then signing on with the Washington Speakers Bureau, Fox and then her television series.

"That same mind-set explains the lack of cohesion to Palin's virtual organization. As [SarahPAC treasurer Tim] Crawford, Van Flein, Davis and Mansour concur, the inhabitants of Palin World have loosely defined duties and thus invariably play outside their lanes."

Draper went on to write "there is no chief of staff -- though 'there's been discussion,' Van Flein says, 'because the logistics are overwhelming and the demand is phenomenal.' Nor, since [Communications Director Meghan] Stapleton departed in February, does Palin have a press person -- with the result that up to eight or nine of her functionaries will find themselves fielding (and usually pocket-vetoing) media requests at any one time.

"Just as Palin heavily edits or at times completely writes most of her own speeches and insists on reviewing any statement issued by SarahPAC, she also must approve all media contact by her subordinates, Van Flein told me."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sarah-palin-thinking-running-president-tells-barbara-walters/story?id=12170631&page=1

I guess everyone deserves the right to dream, even Sarah Palin. She has a big following in this country as she represents the sheep in us all, those of us that can't think for ourselves and need guidance.

Probably so, I think Dick Cheney could beat him at this point.

On the payroll.

Palin also addressed criticisms that, by avoiding the media, she is partially responsible for the public's perception of her. "I'm on television nearly every single day with reporters. ... Now granted, that's mainly through my job at Fox News, and I'm very proud to be associated with them, but I'm not avoiding anything or anybody.

I realy hope she runs. If that is the best they can come up with it realy exposes the mental ghetto most of this country lives in. There is no mystry why the top 20 percent of the population in terms of wealth votes for Republicans. How do they get enough to win an election? They have to put some Bimbo like Palin front and center. I am just stunned she still has any credability at this point only in Uber Amerika could this even happen. She has been exposed as a fraud on many levels and she is truly a monsterus creation fabricated by the right wing media. Every time she opens her mouth I cringe at the thought that people actualy do support her.

I think considering running for president because you believe you can "beat the other guy" clearly reveals the adolescent mindset of this person. The presidency of the United States of America is not another "trophy" to be gained, its not a popularity contest..its a tremendous responsibility, a charge given to you by the people who intrust you to lead, govern and represent their country.

Im hoping that the American people will finally wake up, and start being more choosy about who they pick, not just to lead and represent their country, but who is capable of setting it back on track...

I think Amerika has jumped the shark its too late. If your young its time to think about what country to emigrate too before its to late and you find yourself on some type of no fly list. If your middle aged like me you can only hope social security wont be looted before retirenment. We are a country of wimps. One only need to watch the news and see the British and French protesting in Amerika we are watching Sarah Palin on the discovery channel and people chopping down the rain forest on the History channel. We are a country of rubes and most likely will get what we deserve.

Palin can beat Obama? No way! Obama is an idiot and voters are idiots.Guess who wins-OBAMA!

not that I would EVER vote for this lady after her run as VP and listening to her speak unscripted,,but


to play devils advocate, what else can she say when asked directly if she thinks she can win? no? what 'politician' would say that after being picked for the vice presidential candidacy? If she could win that with all the other more intelligent and knowledgable politicians and even FEMALE AND REPUBLICAN politicians,,why shouldnt she believe she could win the presidency too,,,,didnt Bristol believe she could win DWTS?

I mean, some people are just that confident when its hard to understand why, but I dont put confidence down if it isnt cocky

i seriously doubt it,but then again baby Bush got 2 terms.

My kitten could beat Obama..............

Yea, alot of peeople are talking crap about Obama, but lets not forget about this guy... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEbZqvMu2cQ

probably not

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_palin_vs_obama-1169.html



it seriously depends upon what happens in the next two years, the war greatly BOOSTED Bush, anything can happen to boost or diminish the enthusiasm behind a candidate

...we are only half way there,,,

Sarah Palin couldn't beat her way out of a wet paper sack..........

I once thought it would be laughably absurd for the Governator to win in california.....

Not to mention that they don't expect the chosen person to whimp out and quit when the going gets tough.

Sure, past performance may be no indicator of future results-- but that's the way the Smart Money bets.

-Kerry O.

LOL
That's funny.

That's because ALOT of people HATE Obama.

Actually hate is a really strong word......I don't think people hate him....and you have to admit Bush is probably the worst public speaking President in the history of the US......it was probably his worst ability...not saying he was stupid but he definitely should have studied his speeches a heck of a lot more than he did