Sig Rogich, a Republican operative widely seen as influential and who worked on former President Ronald Reagan's 1984 reelection campaign, took aim at Sarah Palin's qualifications to run for the White House in the next election cycle.
"I'm not overly enamored with [her]," he told the Nevada News Bureau on Monday. "As a candidate nationwide I don't think she is electable for a presidency, and I think that over time you will see reasons why."
Rogich suggested that big GOP names, such as Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, could be better Republican party picks to make a 2012 presidential run. Both men, as well as Palin, are rumored to be considering vying for a chance to run against President Obama.
The critical comments made by Rogich on the prospect of Palin mounting a White House run aren't the first shots he's taken at the former Alaska governor. A longtime ally of Arizona Sen. John McCain, Rogich took aim at Palin's impact on the Republican lawmaker's failed presidential bid against Obama on the heels of the 2008 election.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported at the time:
He felt that McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, was mishandled and failed to appeal to moderates.
"She needs to understand that America is a right-of-center nation, all things considered, but not far right of center," Rogich said. "She needs to appeal to the broad masses.