I take her at her word, but I know she's running, and this is the best evidence yet

I saw this on Conservatives4Palin this morning. It's the best confirmation from Palin herself that she will run in 2012.



I do take her at her word that she hasn't yet decided, but based on the words she used to answer the question, and her overall involvement in daily politics thus far, all points to a huge possibility of her running in 2012.

"Tough choices," that's a great phrase right there. That means she won't stand by and let a RINO squish take the nomination. She wants someone who will make the tough choices to repeal Obamacare, to take steps in significantly reducing government's reach, to undo all that Obama has done. There are several potential candidates who will not have the guts to do those things. She will.

She didn't give the usual "no" response when asked about running for President. She said it's too soon to decide, which is the truth. But meanwhile she is laying the groundwork for a run just in case.

Look for the rest of the interview with Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight, tonight at 7:30pm EST.

BREAKING: Fox and CNN reporting she will not seek reelection

UPDATED: from CNN: "WASHINGTON (CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced Friday she would not seek a second term and would soon step down as governor." Step down as governor?? We still don't have confirmation from Sarah yet.


UPDATED: Fox and CNN reported on their live broadcasts that she will not seek reelection as governor in 2010. Still awaiting confirmation.

Palin issued a press release stating that she will make an announcement today at 3pm EST...right now. I'm on it and will post it as soon as I find out what it is.

Speculation on Palin's future

I previously wrote that I think Palin will run in 2012 and gave a list of reasons, or "clues" I probably should say, as to why.

This week, the MSM is also speculating on Palin's future and they too think she will run. Some say she won't even run for re-election as governor in 2010 in order to free up time and money for the 2012 bid, taking a nod from Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty. Certainly, Mark Sanford's recent choices will make an impact on this decision as well since he was previously considered a frontrunner.

Palin Likely Prepping for 2012 Presidential Run
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:29 PM
Newsmax
By: David A. Patten

Beltway tongues are starting to wag that Sarah Palin is likely to opt out of a 2010 bid for re-election as Alaska's governor, in order to free herself for a presumed run on the national GOP ticket in 2012.

“There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection,” a prominent former GOP state legislator, Andrew Halcro, told Politico's Andy Barr. “If you’re Palin, once you’ve flown first class, you don’t go back to coach. She’s been to the show and certainly seemed to like it there,” he adds.

Politico also quotes a DC-based Democratic strategist who concludes, "We don't think she's running."

If Palin does bow out, it would free up her time to organize a broader campaign for national office. In so doing, she would appear to be following the course set by conservative GOP Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a frequently touted presidential hopeful.

According to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, no candidate, including Palin, has yet to file the paperwork to toss their hat in the political ring for the Alaska governorship.

Politico quotes a former Palin staff member who estimates there's a 50-50 chance Palin will shoot for another term as governor.

"If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career, it's that she is full of surprises," the source says.

Palin has consistently deflected media inquiries into her future political plans.

Political pundits expect Palin will wait as long as possible – probably until next spring -- to announce her intentions.

continued...

Palin will back Murkowski for Senate in 2010

Palin confirmed that she will not attempt to run for US Senator in 2010.

ADN:
"The governor has no intention of running for the senator's seat in 2010," Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Tuesday. "(Palin) thinks the senator is doing a great job and that's why she's looking forward to hosting a fundraiser for her."

She still hasn't confirmed it, but it's looking like she'll run for Governor re-election in 2010. The ADN story speculated that she could challenge US Senator Mark Begich for his seat when his term is up in 2014, but I'm hoping she'll be President by then (of course).

No disappointment

Earlier I expressed disappointment that Palin isn’t going to attend CPAC. This isn’t disappointment in her, rather my disappointment that CPAC will not be as good without her. I believe she’s the future of the Republican Party and I would like anyone in her position and with her ideas, delivering a key-note address at CPAC. I was interested to read her speech and listen to what she had to say. I’m sorry I can’t do that, but I have absolutely no disappointment in her at all.

Palin doesn’t need CPAC. Her turning down the invitation just proves how dedicated, loyal and dependable she is to her constituency. At her heart, Palin serves the people of Alaska. That’s her job and she knows it. She’s not a career politician trying to climb the ladder to national power. She’s someone who really believes that she has a responsibility to Alaska. Even when she attended the Alfalfa Club Dinner, she left after work on Friday and before work on Monday, so she wouldn’t miss one day on the job. She was elected to do this job – so it’s a good thing! This makes her all the more qualified for 2012. Compare her behavior with that of Obama’s over the past two years. She’s turning down invitations to national political events to work hard at being a Governor – while Obama spent the past two years campaigning and voting “present” in the Senate. He also admittedly showed up late to many Senate sessions. Who would you rather have as President? Palin, that’s for sure!

Alaskans also have a lot to do with this decision. Whenever I read comments from the locals on Alaskan news websites (linked on the right) they’re mostly the same: they express disappointment that Palin left the state to go campaigning with John McCain last year. They lament that she was gone for three months, that she had to do long-distance governing and the Lt. Gov had much to do in her absence. Remember she had such a high approval rating in Alaska before the campaign. They loved her – and why not, the American public loved her too, when we got to meet her. Those same qualities we love in her are the same reasons why Alaskans didn’t want to “share” her. They finally had a Governor who was doing some good hard work for Alaska and they wanted her to keep doing it! I feel for them. If Palin were my Governor I wouldn’t want to share, either. I felt the same way when George W. Bush decided to run for President when he was such a great Governor for my state, Texas.

I think this could be a signal that she’ll seek re-election as Governor in 2010, which is what I was hoping she would do. No matter what, she’ll be a great Governor for Alaska. But I think her being a Governor, head of state, a true leader, will help her chances in 2012.