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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So can we assume that FOX news will do the right thing and fire her now so that they don't risk giving her free campaign exposure on the FOX network?
Get ready for the stench.
Yes!!! Thank you Jesus! Let the circus begin, I do hope she will run, and give us some comic relief.
Though am amongst many who hates to hear all kind of noises from this bimp. but at the same am happy that as soon as she enters the race, she will energise our base. Who in a right thinking can allow a person who refused to run a bicycle and allow her to fly the plane. Is anyone out there who will sit comfortably at the back of the plane and allow this lady sit in the cockpit and fly the plane!!! Is it possible????
Has the counterfeit Christian finally gathered her list of lies, deceit and misinformation together?
watch out America...here she comes. She's making all the right moves, and has "a fire in her belly". Be prepared...this is a scary lady who actually believes in herself – and there are plenty of nut-cases who believe in her too. We can't take her lightly!
Someone needs to put a bullet in this sk..an...k shes more annoying this gilbert godfrey on meth. The only thing she should run for is the guniess book of world records for most annoying th..wat in history
"Palin launching multi-city tour". Better title for this article, in honor of the"founding fathers"...The idiots are coming! The idiots are coming!
What a joke..... if she runs, she will ensure Obama wins again. I do not agree with a lot of what Obama has done, but most of America will not vote for someone who quit in the middle of serving just to pad the Palin pockets.....
To be honest if this "soccer mom" / "reality star" gets to run our country...... Like many people I will be pulling my money out of the banks and investments because once the world catches wind of her, our stocks and equity will drop like a stone....
We better get use to Obama, looks like he might be here a while.
As Bill Maher so aptly put it ....THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU!
Sarah should move to
94th and D in
Oakland,CA. She is
A true HOOD RAT and
Scotsdale does not
Need More TPT.
So, when is she planning to come to Philadelphia? I want to be sure and leave town for that appearance. I really cannot stand her!
She knows she will not get the nomination, she just needs to keep speaking engagements scheduled to make the sheep happy and her bank account full.
whatever .. like people care. Let her waste her money and time, learn the hard way maybe the best way for her to learn.
Whatever! Palin is a quitter ant that is the least that America needs right now. She is dim.
And again why is this news? Everyone knows she will never be president, so why waste the time to cover her, simply amazing...just amazing.
Please, please, please run. I need some good laughs.
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 .
Star Power Sarah will set this country back 20 years , No open debates , No facts , no credibility !
She is a super freak with a chip on her shoulder.
Hamby thinks she's running for Pres .....and she's a contender? What a fool.
Palin is just clinging to her cash cow which is stoking fear and hate among feable and weak minded Americans to hate other Americans while making $. Palin is a typical radical right-wing social parasite.
God Bless America...!!!!!! I cannot beleive this person.....full of uncertainity.
Let her take that tour , of course she'll go to area's that may support her , but believe me this coward of a woman absolutley will not go anywhere were she would have to answer questions that are not scripted . If she only goes places that they ask easy or scripted questions then her entire campaign is a fraud . One thing about being presidential is that you have to talk to everyone not just fox news and other conservatives talk shows but everyone !!!
Would someone please tell this vacuous narcissist that her 15 minutes are up?
Quitter Quitter Quitter!!!!
Why...oh why..do we give her the attention she craves?
its all about the money... keep your name out there....she doesnt have a chance... its all about the money..