Strategist warns against Palin campaign

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A former strategist for U.S. Sen. John McCain says the Arizona Republican's former running mate, Sarah Palin, should not seek the U.S. presidency in 2012.

Former McCain chief strategist Steve Schmidt said in Washington Friday that a 2012 presidential campaign from the former Alaskan governor could have a "catastrophic election result," The Washington Post reported.

"I think that she has talents, but my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican Party in 2012, and in fact, were she to be the nominee, we would have a catastrophic election result," Schmidt said at Friday's First Draft of History conference.

"In the year since the election has ended, she has done nothing to expand her appeal beyond the base. ... The independent vote is going to be up for grabs in 2012. That middle of the electorate is going to be determinative of the outcome of the elections. I just don't see that if you look at the things she has done over the year ... that she is going to expand that base in the middle," the strategist added.