The current New Yorker magazine has an interesting article about Sarah Palin. Nothing earth-shaking, and nothing particularly positive or negative. Just a "here's some background you haven't heard yet" kind of piece.

After becoming governor, she learned that some conservative pundits were taking Alaskan cruises. She invited them to the governor's mansion in two different batches, 3-4 at a time. Bill Kristol was in the first group, and became very enamored of Palin. He subsequently regularly promoted her name as a VP candidate, long before McCain won the nomination.

Dick Morris was in the second group. He talked to her specifically about being a VP candidate, and gave her advice.

The article shows that Palin has a lot of the good qualities (and please, I say this in a good sense) that served Bill Clinton well: personal charisma, charm, great relational skills, smart, listens to people, and a very quick study on issues. Plus the quality behind courting these pundits in the first place: ambition.