Can Palin translate celebrity into real power?

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   >> just a couple of minutes.

   >>> let's turn to politics now. as former vice presidential candidate sarah palin planning a run for president? over the weekend, she made it pretty clear she's considering it. nbc's andrea mitchell has more on that. andrea, good morning to you.

   >> reporter: good morning, matt. well, she could be serious or she could just be leveraging her commercial and political clout. but sarah palin definitely opened the door to running for president. she's already a star attraction for conservative republicans. sunday in texas for governor rick perry .

   >> let's send a message to washington. let's get our country back. god bless you and god bless texas.

   >> reporter: and tea party supporters saturday night in nashville cheered her lacerating, sarcastic attack on president obama .

   >> now a year later, i've got to ask those supporters of all that, how's that hopy-changy stuff working out for ya?

   >> reporter: now sarah palin 's making it clear this could be the opening round of a race for the white house . speaking to fox news, where she's a paid commentator.

   >> i would if i believe that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the palin family, certainly, i would do so. i think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that i can potentially do to help our country. close a door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.

   >> reporter: in her red meat speech to tea party members, she took direct aim at the president, especially his anti-terror policies.

   >> to win that war, we need a commander in chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern.

   >> reporter: but while taking shots at president obama 's speech-making --

   >> this is about the people and it's bigger than any king or queen of a tea party and it's a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter.

   >> reporter: palin was beyond using a handy crib sheet of her own. so, when she was asked her top priorities, she was ready. we have got to jump start these energy projects.

   >> reporter: so far, appearing with hosts who talk about president palin and friendly crowds who don't question her facts is working for her. that, plus a fox tv studio being built in her kitchen and controlled messages on facebook and twitter.

   >> i think it may be that sarah palin is the first made for social media president or presidential candidate .

   >> reporter: whether sarah palin is just increasing her lecture fees or seriously considering a run for the white house , democratic and republican leaders are sure paying attention. matt?

   >> all right, andrea. thanks very much. andrea mitchell in washington this morning. joe scarborough is

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