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Sarah Palin, your favorite g-droppin', celebrity-courtin', Fox News-commentin' hockey mom, vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor of yore, just announced today that she will not run for president.
Palin broke the news in a letter to talk show host Mark Levin and in a letter to her supporters:
My decision is based upon a review of what common sense conservatives and independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office - from the nation's governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. Know that by working together we can bring this country back - and as I've always said, one doesn't need a title to help do it.
This isn't exactly a huge shocker. Although Palin has been very much in the public eye, but she wasn't making the moves you would expect of a presidential candidate. As the Los Angeles Times puts it:
She failed to assemble a national campaign organization or a widespread fundraising organization. She appeared comfortable in her role as a highly paid commentator on Fox News — and there seemed little indication that the network was looking to sever ties with her as it did with other candidates such as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
Political experts tell the Washington Post that they expect that not running for president is a pretty great career move for Palin:
"This is virtually a win-win decision for her," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican strategist who worked with Palin in 2008. "By keeping her powder dry for whatever the future holds, she is preserving her power of celebrity."
