Palin Quits as Alaska Governor

Some people are speculating that Palin is preparing for a run in 2012. I'm not sure how this would help her with that. At a minimum, the way she is handling this announcement is creating potentially negative speculation.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shocked the political word Friday afternoon by announcing that she will step down at the end of the month and transfer power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

Palin made the surprise announcement from her home in Wasilla, flanked by her husband, Todd, and family and state commissioners.

"I never believed that I nor anyone else needs a title to do this, to make a difference," she said. "I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional and it's not so comfortable."

Parnell will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month, Palin said.

The announcement came on the same week that one of her top public health officials says she was forced out of office because Palin felt she wasn't in step on social issues.

Palin has been discussed as a potential contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nominee almost from the day after John McCain lost the 2008 election in November with Palin as his running mate. By resigning now, she would avoid the difficult task of running for president while serving as governor, though she has not said whether she intends to seek another public office.

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