Love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has re-written the book on female candidacy. Her ten-week campaign peaked and plunged amid a seemingly relentless throng of dissenters.  Her new book, Going Rogue: An American Life, and the resulting media blitz, will be the nagging undertone of the 2010 election in this state.

Palin's book tour is a blessing for Democrats.  Palin has effectively stolen the thunder away from the Republican spin machine and directed the spotlight on questions about her personal prospects.  On the national scene, the conservative base seems to prefer Palin's melodic pitch over the rhythmic banging of heads against the wall of Congress and the healthcare debate.  The once bread-and-butter Republican issues in the state, such as pork-filled legislation and the soaring costs of just about everything, are being sucked up by the momentum of a hockey mom gone rogue.  

Less than a third of Americans think Palin is qualified to be president. The Oprah Winfrey show saw its best ratings in over two years when Palin made an appearance last Monday.  

Palin may be from Alaska, but her media blitz is creating aftershocks that being felt everywhere, especially California.

Candidates Carly Fiorina (Republican candidate for Senate) and Meg Whitman (Republican candidate for Governor) seem unsure in their stances on Palin.  Fiorina, while openly admitting that she hadn't yet read Palin's book, came to the defense of the former Vice Presidential candidate during an interview where Fiornia rebuffed the McCain campaign as "sexist."  Meanwhile, Whitman has been dodging Palin questions like the plague.

For Fiorina, a Palin endorsement would solidify her conservative messaging in spite of rival Chuck DeVore's conservative bona fides. Palin could also be of help to Whitman by solidifying her march against "career politicans," an axe that was swung in Jerry Brown's direction earlier this week.

For both Fiorina and Whitman, Sarah Palin's endorsement would mean an instantaneous spotlight.  In the now-famous battle for New York's 23rd Congressional district, Palin's endorsement of Doug Hoffman was followed by a slew of other high-profile Republican endorsements and a last-minute spike in campaign funds.  Candidates from many states who face similar intra-party challenges are hoping for a little help from Palin.

However, candidates in California must walk a tightrope: party loyalty wins primaries, but centrism wins elections.  Although a Palin endorsement would give both candidates a boost in the primaries, it could hurt in November. In the general election, both candidates will have to prove themselves as centrist moderates; the lasting image of a Palin endorsement would certainly shatter any argument in the way of centrism.  

A Palin endorsement would also shift the conversation away from Democrats, and the tough decisions to be made by years' end. It would make the election less of a referendum on how the Democrats have handled the state, and more about the soul of the Republican party.

So for the sake of the Democrats, keep the Palin momentum alive.  Just try not to elect her President.