‘Regan-heir’ Palin speaks on her electability as US president in 2012

WASHINGTON - Fromer Alaska Governor Sarah Palin addressed questions about her own electability in the 2012 US presidential election by saying that critics also said Ronald Reagan couldn’t win in 1980.

Speaking to a group of well-connected Republicans at a private dinner in Florida this week, Palin told the right-wing crowd that those who don’t have the same convictions will always say a true conservative can’t win, Politico reports.

Palin repeatedly invoked the 40th president and conservative icon, at one point citing the quotation he was most fond of: that America is a “shining city on a hill.”

“I think she sees herself as heir to Reagan,” Politico quoted one private dinner attendee, as saying.

Palin however did not talk directly about a White House bid at the event, held on Wednesday at the famed Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.

Rather she used her remarks and a question-and-answer period with about 50 conservative insiders to discuss topics such as health care, the midterm elections and the state of the GOP, Politico reports.

Palin discussed the importance of keeping the tea party movement in the GOP but criticized establishment Republicans who she said weren’t listening to the party’s grass roots by supporting moderate candidates over conservatives. (ANI)