In an appearance on Hardball yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MI) was asked if Sarah Palin is qualified to be President in 2012. Barbour responded "Well, constitutionally, she sure is."

Barbour continued: "I don't know anything that disqualifies her from being president. Do I think she is the best presidential candidate we might have? Well, lets see who all runs. But right now the good news is I don't have to make that decision."

My focus is exclusively on 2010. We've got 37 governor's races, 37 senate races, we've got the entire congress, and that's the election that really matters, and Republicans who got their eye on the ball got their eye on 2010.

"I'm not smart enough to know what's gonna happen in 2012, but I do believe she'll be helpful to some of our candidates in 2010," said Barbour.

Late Update: Matthews followed up on his interview with Barbour by counting on Friday the number of times the Governor dodged his questions about Palin. Here's the clip: