Tales from the Trail

President Barack Obama says he’s focusing on his job and not thinking about whether he might be going head-to-head with Sarah Palin when he’s up for re-election in  2012.

“I don’t speculate on what’s going to happen two years from now,” Obama told ABC’s Barbara Walters in an interview taped  Tuesday at the White House.

“You will not tell me that you think you can beat Sarah Palin?” Walters asked.

“What I’m saying is I don’t think about Sarah Palin,” Obama said.

“I spend most of my time right now on how I can be the best possible president, Obama added, declining to be drawn into    speculation over the outcome of the next presidential sweepstakes.

Walters was following up on her recent Palin interview in which the former Alaska governor, 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, and conservative superstar said she believes  she can beat Obama.

Palin is one of many Republicans who are considered possible challengers to Obama in two years.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Palin took a shot at former Republican President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush in response to comments they made about  potential 2012 Republican presidential contenders.

“I think the majority of Americans don’t want to put up with the blue bloods — and I say it with all due respect because I love the Bushes — but the blue bloods who want to pick and choose their winners instead of allowing competition to pick and choose the winners,” Palin said on Laura Ingraham’s talk radio show.

In an interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live” this week, Bush said he didn’t know who the nominee would be — but that he likes former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Asked what she thought of Palin, Barbara Bush said, “I think she’s very happy in Alaska and I hope she’ll stay there.”

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Rick Scuteri (Palin at book signing in Phoenix); REUTERS/Brian Snyder (Obama, Palin cutouts in shop window, Edgartown, Mass., Aug 2010)