Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she won't seek reelection

Sarah Palin, the GOP’s embattled former vice presidential candidate, will not run again for governor of Alaska, prompting speculation that she is considering a presidential race in 2012.

Palin made the announcement at her hometown of Wasilla.

[Update: At a news conference before the Fourth of July weekend, Palin said she would step aside as governor and be replaced by Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, according to local television reports. Palin took no questions.]

-- Michael Muskal

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Comments

[Daniel]

I hope she runs. She is everything that's wrong with the Republican party and their is nothing better than rubbing someone's nose in their own.....

[Ann]

She won't finish her term as governor and took no questions? Something fishy is going on.........

[Michael McGinnis]

This is awesome news! She was a very poor choice as governor, vice president, or any other job where character and intelligence is important.

[zango]

6 mos. ago the Republican party wanted her to lead the nation ! Now we find out she cant handle the stress of running a state with 600k people ? The GOP put their own self interest ahead of the nation when they selected her. That includes John McSame. The Republican party has become the party of traitors.

[Dan D]

No surprise... And the top candidate for VP? Let me guess... "Joe the Plumber"! I guess the only safe bet for the cheating, stealing, hypocritical white male republican party is an inexperienced brainless bimbo. Scary thing is the 25% of the country that cannot read or write that will vote for her - those that do not trust a candidate smarter than they are.

[antediluvianmind]

It's terrifying to think that a year ago this woman was considered a legitimate candidate - by some - for Vice President of the United States. What a baffoon she is.

And it's even more disturbing that there are people out there who still feel the need to defend this incompetent tart.

[Throw the Bums out!]

She used the office of Gov. to milk her state of funds to buy her stuff, fire people who she didn't like and fight with David Letterman. She was getting tossed out if she didn't run away.

[Sadie]

Suppose she would have made VP I guess she would step
down from that job do if it suited her. This is bizarre
behavior to not finish out your responsibility to govern
your state.
She is not all there.

[Chris]

if she's the best they have in 2012 we have it made!!!

[Norm Silver]

I can't believe this. If she is serious then we are all going to get some real entertainment value press conferences. But Alaska sure is getting off easy.

[Steve]

Not even serving a full term as the governor of Alaska is not going to reassure those who worried she didn't have the experience and qualifications to be Vice President, much less President. She'll be a popular speaker, and make tons of Fox News appearances, for a while. But then what? Even Ronald Reagan, the quintessential Republican "outside" served two terms as a governor, so he could point to some "accomplishments" when he ran for Prez. Palin will be seen as a talker, not a doer. There may be more behind this story.

[julie]

John Stewart should send her a thank-you note. He's set for years now.

[julie]

Jon stewart, not John. Silly Silly me.

[Jeff W]

It's in her voice!

Sarah sounds like she is barely hanging on to her sanity,
She needs to check herself into a hospital.

[healthy guy]

"I think people are going to be very suspicious because of the timing. You don't quit on the Friday of a three-day holiday. If you are going to do this, you think it through, you give a good speech,"

[Clint Bradford]

Palin should have resigned to take care of her family when she became pregnant in office. "I can be more effective OUTside of government?" YES - Stay out of it.

[james g]

I think she will be a great president, who cares she is uninformed and ignorant, hay we will have more hunting more drilling of oil and green what's that, i hope she wins

[john]

obviously her government job does not pay her well enough so she quit to pursue money on the more lucrative paid for service speaking gig. her intention is to make as much dough as possible while she is still well like within the gop community. it is just to show us all that she is an opportunist like every body. she has no chance to be elected to the presidential office and she knows it. it is all about making as much as possible while she can.

[Al]

At first I liked Gov Palin, however, my judgement has changed in regards to the President of the USA - I would concider other Rep candidates first. The Rep better get someone that is really good, or we will have a Dem in office another term.

[Portland Roots]

I really really hope not. I think that she needs to raise her family and her special needs son. If she believes in traditional marriage and traditional families so much, then why is she ignoring hers pretending that she might be president someday. Its not going to happen, she could not even finish one term as governor, what makes us believe she could handle the whole country.