Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – Not two days ago, Sarah Palin was all but written off as a possible presidential contender by the national media and Republican insiders who considered the field of 2012 candidates to be settled.
Now, fittingly, one of the country's most unpredictable political figures is preparing to prove them wrong.
Palin announced on the SarahPAC website that she has laid the groundwork for a nationwide tour, beginning this weekend in the nation's capital, that will once again thrust her into the national spotlight as she decides whether to seek the GOP nomination.
"As we look to the future, we are propelled by America's past. It's imperative that we connect with our founders, our patriots, our challenges and victories to clearly see our way forward," she said, in a statement.
"A good way to do this is to appreciate the significance of our nation's historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures, which we'll do in the coming weeks on our "One Nation" tour.
The multi-city journey will take the former Alaska governor to a series of historical sites along the East Coast "that were key to the formation, survival and growth of the United States of America," a Palin source told CNN.
Other stops on the week-long tour are expected to include the civil war battlefields at Gettysburg and Antietam, Philadelphia–to visit the Liberty Bell–and one in New Hampshire.
The tour is primed to garner a flood of media attention thanks to the slow-starting presidential race.
It will begin over Memorial Day weekend, during Sunday's Rolling Thunder rally in Washington, an annual pilgrimage of bikers to honor fallen soldiers and prisoners of war.
News of the tour comes as speculation about Palin's presidential intentions reaches fever pitch.
After remaining relatively quiet throughout the spring, Palin recently rehired former advisers Jason Recher and Doug McMarlin, CNN has confirmed.
Recher and McMarlin organized travel logistics for Palin in the year following her return to Alaska after the 2008 presidential campaign, but they parted ways last year. The two men would be instrumental in mounting a presidential effort should she decide to run.
Palin has also given her blessing to a $1 million feature-length movie about her rise to the governor's office in Alaska that will be shown later this summer in the crucial early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
She recently returned from a trip to the Middle East aimed at burnishing her foreign policy credentials.
And reports indicate that the Palins recently purchased a $1.7 million home in Scottsdale, Arizona, which would offer them a more feasible location to run a campaign from than far-away Alaska.
Palin's political action committee would not confirm the purchase or speculate on where a potential campaign would be based.
While political observers have dismissed her chances by pointing out her lack of activity in the early states that typically vault candidates the presidential nomination, her supporters insist that claim overlooks Palin's political mojo.
She is, her backers say, the only potential Republican candidate with the kind of star power required to skip early nominating hurdles like the network debates or the closely watched Ames Straw Poll and still be competitive.
CNN's Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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What a narcissist, look at me, look at me. What a joke, a Hollywood production tour beginning with rolling thunder and the flag. As I recall, she has never had anything good to say about Washington, DC but she is starting her tour there on Memorial Day to honor the troops. She is a user and even uses our troops. She is trash. Went to Israel to burnish her foreign policy credentials. Is that all it takes. Heck, I have been to 22 countries. Does that burnish my credentials as a foreign policy expert? What a crock.
If she is the best they can come up with, the GOP is toast.
I wish she would just disappear.
not sure how Palin could consider running for President when she resigned as Governor of AK. Does she think the Ms. President job is going to be easier?
As a democrat, all I can say is . . . Thank you Sarah. . . I am behind you all the way
Oh, please run Sarah!! I need a good laugh.
If she runs she will HAVE TO do interviews on other networks besides Faux and will HAVE TO take part in the debates. If she doesn't it'll only result in her being branded as scared and if she does she'll show her true mental capabilities....or INcapabilities.
Run Sarahrun, you can do it. LOL
She won't run -- bring it on.... what a loser....
Oh dear, I hope not. Please Sarah, make money and fade away.
We will all have to run to Canada, if this idiot is elected President. Please let this be false, can not stand this person. She is a Money Grubber, and wants to be in the spotlight. All she has been doing all this time, is making money, to afford her life style.
Buying a million dollar house, sound about like her, I am sure the people, of the Great State of Alaska, are glad to have her gone.
But I sure don't want her in the main land either. Send her to China..........on a slow boat...........please.
I wish John McCain had her up his you know what, I would never vote for someone like her. She is a snake oil sails person.
I will be voting for our President and Vice President, OBAMA BIDEN TICKET........PEACE OUT.
Many Democrats, who miss Donald Trump, will probably enthusiastically welcome her entry. That is shorsighted, however. The country deserves a chance to choose among the best possible candidates, and Ms. Palin just adds to the list of incompetents, scoundrels and flip-floppers that makes up the GOP wannabee list.
"She is, her backers say, the only potential Republican candidate with the kind of star power required to skip early nominating hurdles like the network debates"
ha ha. Star power keeping her out of the debates? Maybe it’s her speaking power keeping her out of the debates! I have a burning in my belly to watch this circus tour!
A network debate is a nominating hurdle? What do they plan to do if she gets the nomination, skip the debates with Obama, and rely instead on reality TV series and propaganda movies? She is not serious about this, people. She can make too much money make sophmoric comments on FOX and have none of the responsibilities of a candidate. Her negatives cannot be overcome by carefully edited TV spots, and every time she has been unscripted she gets herself into trouble.
"One Nation Tour" huh? Funny-she's done more to divide this country than almost anyone in recent memory. Remember when she went looking for "real" Americans who love God and guns? She is a joke-if she gets the nomination and runs against Obama-she'll get her 23% of the vote-at least then we'll be done with her....
Do us a favor and stay away from Southern California. We've got enough crazies out here. Perhaps it's not to late to plan your trip through tornado alley?
thi is better than a soap opera run Sarah run and then we will truly see how many idiots walk amongs us
Wow...what else can this moronic woman do to hurt her party in designs to further her own retirement nest egg.
by the way has Sarah Palin checked out her approval rating lately? Not very good folks and after this new tell all book comes out and Levi's book it just might go lower.
Sarahcuda is crazy like a fox......
FOX News, that is.
OMG! The "second coming" is about to take place and am I ever so happy to have "The Sarah" back from the moose hunt and back on the political scene again. The political news has been dreadfully dull ever since "The Donald" gave up in favor of "business". A multi-city tour will give Sarah the opportunity to make multi-gaffs that we'll all be talking about for years to come. She's not a threat to achieve high office – she's just damn good ENTERTAINMENT.
what is she trying to sell now....she can't leave her job at Fox, so she is not running for pres. This is about making money and fooling a lot of media people.
Palin is a quitter and a loser. Do not vote for her. She quit the governorship in Alaska, she will quit the presidency too.
Great news! Obama must be ecstatic. Maybe she'll choose Rush Limbaugh as her running mate.
It is really quite difficult to wrap one's hands around the idea of a Palin presidency. This is a person whose character, experience and basic knowledge are a mile long but only an inch deep. She represents the worst of those who never let facts and reality get in her way. Too bad her cutesy innocent looking jargon is followed by so many otherwise patriotic Americans.