The AIP seems to be mostly a party which questions whether or not Alaska's 1958 statehood vote was valid.  See, I'm still not convinced that it's really all that "radical" outside of a couple of nutty statements made by its founder back in the 70s and 80s.  Besides, I'd hardly call a message of well wishes a resounding endorsement.

Senator Obama once called Rev. Jeremiah Wright his mentor and his spiritual father, and in fact attended Wright's church for 20 years.  Had there been any such close relationship between the Palins and Joseph Vogel, I'd say you might have a point, but I don't think the two are at all analogous.

By the way, did you find my citation from Perpich to be satisfactory?