A helpful guide to why Palin is indeed a poison pill for what's left of her party:
These results show that Obama was able to use his campaign to reassure voters about his qualifications for office, but they also show how deep a perceived hole Palin is now in. When Obama began his campaign in early 2007, only a third of voters (32%) considered him "not very" or "not at all qualified" to be president. Compare that to the 55% who say Palin is not "fit" for the presidency now or to the 52% to 59% who said she was not "prepared" or not "qualified" last October.
Inside the cocoon, she's getting bigger and bigger. In the real world, opposition is hardening even further.