Romney’s quip reflects the deep unease among many in the GOP establishment about the continued high-profile of Limbaugh and especially Palin. There is almost a sense of exasperation among many party elites over the media coverage the two polarizing figures get – attention which, in Palin’s case, is widely seen as a product largely of her good looks and tabloid-fodder family troubles.

“She’s bigger in the media than in reality,” lamented GOP consultant Mike Murphy, a longtime friend and adviser to John McCain…

Responding to King’s question first, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said “there are some who like to make it all about personalities, but it’s about ideas.”…

“They would rather just ignore Palin,” said Murphy of the GOP mainstream, “but the media won’t let them.”