One of President Obama's top political advisers suggested Thursday that Democrats would benefit from a Sarah Palin candidacy in 2012, though he said he doubted his party would "get that lucky."

David Plouffe, who managed Obama's 2008 campaign and is a key architect of Democrats' midterm campaign strategy, told reporters that the tea party movement promises to heavily influence the 2012 Republican presidential primaries, arguing that Republicans are likely to nominate a conservative candidate out of step with the political mainstream.

"These guys are going to be running through hoops to please the far-right folks who are kind of the acolytes of Sarah Palin," Plouffe said. "Now maybe she'll be running herself. Something tells me we won't get that lucky."

Plouffe demurred when asked what would make a Palin bid "lucky" for Obama, saying only: "We'll talk more later."

Plouffe predicted that candidates akin to Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R) will be successful in the 2012 primary season.

"You're probably going to see many Christine O'Donnells all over the country, and this goes from their presidential nominee all the way down," Plouffe said.

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