I think Petrilli is correct here, as the notes the slippage of America's college-educated vote into a Democrat advantage in the last electoral cycle:

"There's no law that someone who enjoys organic food, rides his bike to work, or wants a diverse school for his kids must also believe that the federal government should take over the health-care system or waste money on thousands of social programs with no evidence of effectiveness. Nor do highly educated people have to agree that a strong national defense is harmful to the cause of peace and international cooperation."

As the economic crisis, and attempts to paper it over, replace the aftermath of the financial crisis, those opportunities will increase. I'm personally less worried about Ms. Palin's admission that she doesn't read newspapers than Petrilli is. This in an era where that trait is shared by many, many college educated people - and will be shared by more in future. And she has a role to play in revitalizing the party around its principles, even as she climbs in approval ratings and shows people that hey, she's actually pretty smart (full Gridiron speech text here). Which, unless you're a partisan moron like MSNBC's nominated "losers" (this, from a guy who thinks Obama is a great President), was well demonstrated by her achievements in Alaska.

There's absolutely room, in the GOP and clearly in the country, for someone like Palin, who doesn't "speak politician." As a Presidential candidate? Don't know. The way her "revitalize the party" gig is going, I'd advise her to recognize a fantastic, fun, profitable, and necessary gig with few entanglements - and keep it. Beyond his dropped ball on Palin, though, the GOP would do itself a favor to take Petrilli's advice.