On Friday, speaking at The Atlantic's First Draft of History Conference, long time GOP strategist and former George W. Bush aide Steve Schmidt predicted that if the former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin were to win the Republican nomination in 2012 it would be a “catastrophic election,” according to The Huffington Post.

Schmidt, however, was one of the staff members who picked Senator John McCain’s 2008 Presidential running mate but, nevertheless, he thinks “she has talent.” When asked about Palin’s new book, Schmidt provided his assessment, “I think it may say that I was anti-rogue in the running of the campaign.”

In the end, though, Schmidt thinks she has made millions of Americans fascinated by her, “Just look at her pre-sales numbers,” referring to her shooting up to number one of her unreleased memoir on the Barnes and Nobles website.

“She is someone who has a passionate base that constitutes millions of Americans. But in the year since the election has ended, she has done nothing to expand her appeal beyond that base into the middle of the electorate where elections are decided.” Concluding, “In fact, were she to be the nominee we could have a catastrophic election.”

Sarah Palin has had steady polling numbers throughout the year in regards to a possible run for the Republican nomination in 2012. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. Poll in February found Palin leading the pack with 29 per cent, while at the Value Voters Summit last month she gained a four-way tie for second place, reports The Wall Street Journal.