Rick,
A couple points:
Her "popularity" is the result of many factors. Good looks, charm, "Common Sense" type of ideas rather than the faux-intellect usually offered up by politicos, etc.
But perhaps MOST important is the reaction from those who oppose her.
Nothing turns on a conservative more than seeing a liberal squirm. They are, as a group, deathly afraid of her and it is entirely without justification.
Think about it: The libs continually chastized her about "lack of experience". All the while, they propped up a community organizer with just over a year in the senate and who had a dismal record of actually voting ("present" doesn't count).
Then, AFTER the election, the (liberal) media kept her in the spotlight, while simultaneously questioning why she was still relevant.
It's actually quite funny to watch.
She's not my choice for POTUS, but I still think she'd make a great veep.