You've probably noticed the recent surge in talk about a presidential run by Sarah Palin, much of it triggered by her stepped-up midterm campaign efforts and the professionalization of her political operation.

If she does run, there are some compelling reasons to believe she really could could win the GOP nomination and some very good reasons to doubt her chances. (There is also, as I've written, no reason to believe she could actually win a general election as the Republican nominee.)