Opinion: Sarah Palin is the best thing to happen to Mitt Romney, he says

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Sarah Palin may not be an official candidate for president, but she’s definitely on Mitt Romney’s radar. On Monday’s Piers Morgan talk show on CNN, the former Massachusetts governor says the former Alaska governor is a plus to his campaign, despite the fact that her ‘One Nation’ bus tour may have stolen some of his spotlight last week.

On the same day that Romney officially threw his hat into the racefor the GOP nomination for president in New Hampshire, Palin and her traveling road show pulled up just minutes away from him, distracting, at best, reporters who wanted to see what the hockey mom would say next.

Romney told Morgan that he didn’t see it as a distraction. Her appearance in New Hampshire ‘really didn’t ruin my day,’ Romney said. ‘In a lot of respects it’s the best thing that could happen to me,’ he added.

‘I think Sarah Palin is generating enthusiasm and interest in a campaign this year. That’s a good thing,” Romney explained. ‘She has a lot of energy and passion and bringing it to our race is positive for us.’

Palin told Chris Wallace of Fox News on Sunday that she didn’t mean to steal Romney’s thunder.

‘I think there’s a curiosity factor there still that’s in play. I don’t know. But I apologize if I stepped on any of that PR that Mitt Romney needed or wanted that day. I do sincerely apologize. I didn’t mean to step on anybody’s toes,’ she said.

A Rasmussen survey released Monday revealed that Romeny was viewed by likely voters as the most-qualified GOP presidential hopeful, while Palin came in as the least-qualified. Of those polled, 63% of said Palin was unqualified.

Tim Pawlenty and Ron Paul tied for second behind Romney in regards to being qualified. Romney was viewed as qualified by 49% of those polled, Pawlenty and Paul were seen as qualified by 27% of respondents.

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-- Tony Pierce
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