ABC's John Berman: Sarah Palin Makes Mitt Romney Seem 'More Reasonable' and 'More Secure'

Good Morning America correspondent John Berman on Thursday offered a sarcastic take on Sarah Palin's tour, dismissing it as a "magical mystery bus." He also spun a possible 2012 run by Palin as making fellow Republican Mitt Romney appear "more safe, a more secure, a more reasonable candidate."

Anchor George Stephanopoulos introduced this concept by musing, "Maybe [the Romney campaign wants] her in the race after all, John. She gives Romney the perfect foil." Berman described that as "exactly right" and added, " And it might make the former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, seem like a more safe, a more secure, a more reasonable candidate."

Berman speculated about the pitfalls of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie using a helicopter [1] to attend his son's baseball game. He asserted that is was "unclear whether this might dampen calls for Christie to enter the race." (That seems like a bit of a stretch for such a minor controversy.)

A transcript of the June 02 segment, which aired at 7:15am EDT, follows:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Now, the race for the White House. Sarah Palin claims she's not campaigning. But after a busy day in New York, she is in Boston today, then New Hampshire. Already there, the early front-runner for the Republican nomination. And Mitt Romney is going to make it official today, formally launching his campaign in Stratham. John Berman joins us from there. Good morning, john.

JOHN BERMAN: Good morning, George. Well, this really does feel like the biggest day of this election so far. Mitt Romney will be making his announcement a few miles down the road from here with a chili cookout. But will some of the spice in that chili be watered down by a clam bake? Because, that's right. Sarah Palin reportedly coming to New Hampshire tonight to host a clam bake on the coast. Sarah Palin's magical mystery bus continues to wind its way up the east coast and is now getting ready to go national.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What are you going to do after the tour is over?

SARAH PALIN: Go back to Alaska. Come back on the trail again. Head the tour west, as the summer progresses.

BERMAN: But not before rolling into New Hampshire tonight for her first visit to the first in the nation primary state since 2008.

PALIN: Hello!

BERMAN: Coincidentally, or not so coincidentally, after mitt romney, the seeming front-runner, launches his campaign. In exempts of his speech obtained by ABC News, the former Massachusetts governor will say "Barack Obama has failed America. We're only inches away from ceasing to be a free-market economy." Also sniffing around New Hampshire today, Rudy Giuliani, meeting with fund-raisers and considering whether a second run for the White House might turn out better than the first. Since $59 million and ended up with zero delegates. Not coming to New Hampshire today? New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He ruffled feathers Tuesday by flying a state helicopter to his son's baseball game. While the chopper costs about $2,500 per hour, the New Jersey state police says there are no costs to the taxpayer because these are flight hours that would be logged in any event. Unclear whether this might dampen calls for Christie to enter the race. He still says he's not in. But he is headed to Iowa in July. And what about a possible reentry from Donald Trump? Maybe as an independent. He told Fox News-

DONALD TRUMP: If the Republican puts up a stiff, I would consider running in a three-person race.

BERMAN: Now, the Romney team says they are not bothered by Palin's possible arrival here tonight. They're sticking on-message, saying that Palin brings energy to the party. And that should she choose to run, she would be a formidable opponent. George?

STEPHANOPOULOS: Maybe they want her in the race after all, John. She gives Romney the perfect foil.

BERMAN: That's exactly right. I mean, behind the scenes, some Romney folks will tell you that it does provide a good contrast for them. And it might make the former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, seem like a more safe, a more secure, a more reasonable candidate.