The Point: Palin-Johnston Feud Heats Up

(Oct. 29) -- Sarah Palin and Levi Johnston, the father of her grandchild, are taking shots at each other just as speculation about her presidential aspirations is on the rise.

After CBS' "Early Show" ran the first of a two-part interview with Johnston on Wednesday, Palin issued a statement scolding the network for giving him "a forum to propagate lies" and denying his claim that she often called her youngest son Trig -- who has Down syndrome -- her "retarded baby."



Despite the dirt being dished by Levi Johnston and a survey that shows most Americans think she's unqualified to be president, Sarah Palin remains a force in national politics.

Without specifically mentioning Johnston's upcoming photo spread for Playgirl, Palin denounced "those who would sell their body for money" in order to get attention.

In Thursday's segment, Johnston insisted there are "a lot of things I wouldn't do for money" -- saying he had turned down proposals to appear on dating shows or do "wild things on camera."

Johnston also told CBS that he knows some "huge" things that could do serious damage to Palin's reputation, but said "I'm not gonna hurt her that way."

This airing of the family's dirty laundry comes as a new CNN poll on Palin showed 71 percent of those surveyed think the former GOP vice presidential nominee doesn't have what it takes to be president. However, nearly two-thirds said she's not a conventional politician and is a good role model for women. One big plus for Palin, CNN's polling director noted, is that most Americans believe "she cares about people like them."

"Honest but unqualified" is how The Atlantic's Mark Ambinder summed up the survey's assessment of Palin. Yet the ex-governor of Alaska remains a closely watched player in Republican politics, a favorite target for Democrats and a constant source of material for bloggers.

Palin shook things up last week when she threw her support behind Doug Hoffman, an independent conservative, and slammed Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava in a New York congressional race that's seen as a showdown between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party movement. The move was part of a high-risk, high-reward strategy that could help Palin build a conservative base for a 2012 run, according to CNN analyst Alexander Mooney.

Another sign that she has her eyes on the Oval Office is an invitation from a conservative group for Palin to speak in Iowa, an important testing ground for presidential wannabes. Some Republicans are angry that the Iowa Family Policy Center is trying to raise money to pay Palin for her appearance, a break from tradition in that first-caucus state.

Palin shouldn't be hurting for cash, with her upcoming memoir "Going Rogue" high on best-seller lists weeks before it hits stores. She got a $1.25 million retainer as part of the book deal that's sure to net her many more millions. She will be on Oprah Winfrey's show next month to plug the book. (Comedian Matthew Filipowicz imagines how that will go.)

For now, it's Levi Johnston who's getting the TV time. And there's a bit of bad news for those who just can't get enough of this family feud. Johnston has announced he's deleting his Twitter account.