Parnell's 'blandness' an asset?

Alaska Beat doesn't think this will be shocking news to many Alaskans, but it's interesting anyway. According to The New York Times, it seems that despite taking up many stances held by his predecessor, former Gov. Sarah Palin, and even recently firing a shot at the Legislature from Facebook, Gov. Sean Parnell is retaining his image as accessible and low-key -- or, depending on whom one asks, "bland" or "mush." However, the article notes that being perceived as low-key and overly gentlemanly has been a common criticism from Parnell's political opponents, may have encouraged the Legislature to ignore the governor's calls for bugetary restraint, and it may figure into in the upcoming gubernatorial election, which will be Parnell's first. The governor doesn't see his image as a liability, though: "I’m a guy who does my homework. That’s what distinguishes me ...” The Times profile closes with a pretty loaded statement from Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) about former Gov. Palin's resignation. Read much more, here.