my recollection is that she gained the support of Democrats because of her complaining that the head of the State Republican Party was doing political work on State time & equipment (Randy  Ruedrich, Oil and Gas Commission, EXACTLY the SAME as Joe Miller did and Miller even used coworkers computers to try and hide his actions) Palin was a last minute entry and no one asked much before she was elected believing her nonpartisan and pro Alaska due to her complaint againt Ruedrich..  heck, she still had issues in Wasilla from her attempt to censor the library...  it didn't take long for her true colors to show...