Palin to step down as governor, not seeking re-election
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Gov. Sarah Palin announced Friday that she will step down as Alaska's chief executive by the end of the month. She will not seek election to a second gubernatorial term in 2010.
Palin, a Republican, was elected governor in 2006. She was tapped as Arizona Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate last year.
Palin said she was transferring authority to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in on July 26.
"People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska," Palin said at an announcement from her home in Wasilla.
"Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine."
Palin added in a statement that she was "determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path. ... Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional 'Lame Duck' status in this particular climate would just be another dose of 'politics as usual,' something I campaigned against and will always oppose."
A Republican source close to Palin's political team told CNN's John King that it was a "calculation" she made that "it was time to move on."
The governor's "book deal and other issues" were "causing a lot of friction up" in her home state, the source said, adding that he believes that she is "mapping out a path to 2012."
Another source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Palin "thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward. ... She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."
As the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Palin has been considered one of the front-runners for the next GOP presidential nomination. Her decision not to seek another term as governor is sure to stoke speculation that Palin is seriously eyeing a run for the White House.
In an interview last month with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Palin said she was unsure about her re-election bid because she needed to focus on her state and her family.
"So, no decision yet on either 2010 or let alone 2012?" Blitzer asked.
"No decision that I'd want to announce today," Palin responded.
- CNN's Peter Hamby, John King, Mark Preston, and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.
(Updated at 4:45 p.m. with additional information)
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Palin just raised Obama's blood pressure 50 points. Oh my God..I won't have minority status in 2012!!!
Palin's weird behavior today just confirms that it was Divine Intervention that she not be elected VP. She has and still, blames the media for all of her woes. She has never taken responsibility for her actions in creating the controversy that continually surrounds her. If she can't handle the criticizm as Governor of Alaska, she certainly couldn't handle them as President or VP of the USA.
Who would ever want to elect an uneducated back woods quitter for President of the U.S? Only other uneducated Republicans.
Palin...SMARTER than Obama?? o my god, who are these people posting these comments. Please read a book people. Look up her college courses...you can DO that ya know! She couldn't even out debate Biden..hello?? what debate were you all watching?
For most employers it is important that an employee is willing to do the boring tasks in addition to the more interesting tasks. I would not hire this woman for anything if she is going to quit when the fun part ends.
Scary, nutty, narcissistic broad...
We should fear Sarah Palin like crazy.
There may very well be enough Americans stupid enough to follow this woman.
And you thought Bush was unprepared, shallow and dangerous. Watch out, world.
She and Gov. Sanford are going to team up as a ticket in 2012 – Erratic Changes You Can't Believe!
If she becomes President.
All us Alaskan's will Vote to Succeed.
We have had enough of her.
The rest of the country should learn from our mistake.
Wow.
It was suggested to me that she could be tapped for a very high profile job at FOX. She certainly has the clout to get some very big names for a show. And she would probably be paid a fortune. Al is a media celebrity so why not Sarah?
Good for you Sarah – gutsy and brilliant! 🙂
good news. very good news
For ever more, when someone looks in the dictionary under the term "OVER-REACH" there will be a picture of Sarah Palin.
She's a quitter, pure and simple. She can't take criticism at any level. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. And she did.
If she somehow gets elected (don't worry, she won't), it'll mean the death of the United States. There will be open revolution.
Most of you should keep one thing in mind re; S.Palin. She is ignorant and what is worse does not seem aware of this. Her education is at best at middle school level. Regardless of any other qualities that she may have this is enough to disqualify her for any public office above the major of Wasila. How can any reasonable person consider her qualified to be the POTUS or even VP. Do people supporting her have any regard for the good of our country? Do we want to have a puppet president with God know who pulling the strings?
To LLB-I will not support a woman just because she has a uterus.
My candidate must have a brain. Sarah Palin is a disgrace to all women.
Wow! I was hoping that she will not be reelected. But this is even better. Great news! I am going to celebrate. She was getting on my nerves every time she opened her mouth.
Palin for President!
At least she has more experience than Obama did when he ran. She actually has more time under her belt than Obama, and did more, and is not a FAILure.
This is great! I can't get enough of this circus. This should give SNL some material for its new season.
What happened? The Governorship in Alaska suddenly consisted of real issues that needed real solutions instead of flashy and unsophisticated pep rallies/press conferences?
She can't even finish her first term as governor and has to quit? And how many months did she spend outside of Alaska during the few months as governor? How many months arguing with somebody about something in the press? How many months defending ethics charges, which she was found guilty on? What a freak.
Garatt, you said,
Where is Palin's dedication to Alaska? Assuming she is so good at her job, why not finish out her term accomplishing more for her state?......
My answer
She never has had any dedication to our state, only to herself and her friends. She's not good at her job and accomplished what ?, to make a laughing stock out of our state, We are glad to see her go, and not too soon.
Candy Crowley was" giddy" Palin is stepping down just one more reason to "dump" on her. CNN just can't help themselves! Maybe there is a health reason, or personal family reason. Not that it would stop the press from reporting it. Maybe something happened ,and she feels it would be best for her family to bow out ;and let Alaska go forward without her. She is young enough to come back if she chooses in the furture when the timing is right! But I am confident that the press will "dig it" up because she is a Republican! The Feminist will be celebrating tonight!!! That crazy "right to life" govenor who had the audacity to run for VP and not be a Democrat!!! Cheers will be heard all over NYC Media offices we won again! First Obama, now Palin. Just remember, nothing lasts forever.
Palin 2012!
It'd be one long election cycle Christmas present for every Democrat in the country, having her bumble her way through the primaries and, possibly, stumble her way through the general.
Has Palin gone over the edge? I saw an ABC report of Palin challenging President Obama to a foot race. Palin was all decked out in her red jacket and black shorts saying that she believed she could beat the President in a race. Now she is quitting as governor. I believe she needs many kinds of help.