SARAH

Posted at 7:23 p.m. ET

What will happen to Sarah Palin?  Well, she'll be governor of Alaska, and probably a very good governor.

But there's something else.   The talent agents are after her:

SARAH Palin won't be vice president, but she won the hearts of talent scouts and literary agents who are scrambling to sign her to multimillion-dollar contracts.

CAA, ICM, William Morris, Paradigm and other agencies "smell books, talk shows and commentary for Fox and CNN" as possibilities for the Alaska governor, West Coast PR man Hal Lifson told us.

"There are several of our imprints who are eager to talk to Governor Palin," Random House spokesman Stuart Applebaum said. "She clearly has a constituency and we know books by conservatively-centered politicos usually sell very, very well."

A book can be a launching platform for the rest of her political career.  It can also, finally, beat down the false idea that she's dumb.  She was clearly unprepared for some aspects of the campaign, but dumb she ain't.

As some of you know, I've been involved in Hollywood and publishing, and I will say that Gov. Palin must proceed carefully, and with an excellent, knowledgeable adviser.  The talent business can use you and eat you alive.  They're not interested in Sarah for Sarah's sake, but, rather, for their own.  You have to have two eyes open when dealing with agencies, and have the phone number of a good lawyer.

She's getting some sound advice already:

Public-relations powerhouse Howard Rubenstein added, "She's poised to make a ton of money." But he warned, "She ought to keep an eye on what her goals are for 2012. If she plays a game and looks foolish, if she sounds like she doesn't know what she's talking about - like saying Africa is a country - she may talk herself out of a political job."

True.  I'm sure she knows Africa isn't a country, but a slip of the tongue is magnified when you're in the arena.

And there'll be plenty of knives out.  Consider:

Linda Mann, president of Mann Media, which books celebrities and fashionistas for TV, noted, "Her buzz is incredible. She has car-wreck appeal. You're compelled to watch, hoping she'll say the dumbest things possible. I'd propose a show combining her love of fashion and lack of brainpower - 'Project Dumbway.' "

Classy comment, ay?  Watch your back, Sarah.

I suspect Sarah Palin will do very well with a book, or a TV talk show.  As long as she keeps her dignity, and uses these platforms to advance serious ideas, she may show that she has real political potential.

But those eyes must stay open and aware.

November 9, 2008.