The news that Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate and governor of Alaska, is to become a regular contributor at Fox News has brought a wave of reaction overnight. Not least because Palin has made many a slip on television during her short career in the public spotlight - the failed candidacy as John McCain's running-mate, the bizarre departure from the governor's mansion in Alaska, and the various personal scandals surrounding her family.

As one blogger put it, "She knows about car crash TV - but what does she know about professional broadcasting?"

The big question is whether, by signing with the cable network that boasts such right-wingers as Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich among its regulars, she will simply be preaching to the converted. If, on the other hand, she can use the role to broaden her conservative base, then it could be a smart tactic in a medium-term strategy to seek the presidency in 2012.

But there are still plenty of Republicans who see that as a pipe dream. As Peter Madigan, Republican lobbyist and strategist, put it: "Gov Palin will do a great job on Fox! President? It ain't gonna happen." And some Democrats believe the Fox News deal may not be a tactic at all - just a job - and that it indicates she may not want to run for the presidency after all.

As always, Palin is keeping 'em guessing.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Todd Harris, Republican strategist, quoted in the Washington Post:
"This gives her a platform she can use to stay relevant, to stay in the public eye and to flush out some of her policy positions... The danger is that any time hundreds if not thousands of hours of a candidate on television exist, there's always the chance for a mistake. Once it's on TV, that video lives forever."

Steve Steckler, chairman of IMG, on politico.com: "I hope it places her in regular on-air debates with well-armed adversaries rather than just serving up Beck-like monologues. If it is the latter, then write her off as a serious future political contender, since she won't have demonstrated that she has overcome her most relevant weaknesses as a candidate. But if it is the former, if she can prove and improve her mettle against 250lb sparring partners on a national stage, then she'll deserve a lot more respect than she's getting right now from independents and thoughtful conservatives."

Tim Graham, of the Media Research Centre, quoted in the Washington Times: "Liberals love Palin because they think she's an ignoramus, and thus so perfect a representative of conservatives. That doesn't mean they don't fear her, because deep down, they think the American people are too dumb to really be trusted with running the country."

Darrell M. West, Brookings Institution analyst, quoted in the LA Times: "It will be hard for her to use this to broaden her political base. It will strengthen her support among conservatives, but she already does well among that group."

Molly Moore, former Washington Post correspondent, on politico.com: "The Palin-Fox News deal can hardly come as a shock to anyone. They are made for each other... Whether Palin's new gig boosts her political credentials or diminishes them will depend in large part on whether she proves adept at furthering the conservative Republican message or whether she becomes perpetual gaff fodder for Saturday Night Live skits."

John Tantillo, New York marketing expert, quoted in the Washington Times: "The most important thing is for the network to let Sarah be Sarah. It would be very unwise if [she] went too New York or too Hollywood or too Washington in her new role. She's got to avoid that. The reason people like her is that they can relate to her."