Sarah Palin announced Friday that she will resign as Alaska governor later this month. She made no mention about pursuing another office, but there has been speculation she is considering a run at U.S. Senate or the presidency."It hurts to make this choice but I'm doing what's best for Alaska," she said in speech from the backyard of her Wasilla home with husband Todd and children Piper, Bristol and Willow at her side. "You can effect change from the outside, and I can too."
She also said that her year-old son Trig, who has Down syndrome, needs her at home more.
Palin, 45, came out of nowhere last summer when the little-known governor was chosen to run with Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Widely lampooned by Saturday Night Live and other shows during the race, Palin recently tangled with David Letterman after he made off-color jokes about her trip to New York with her 14-year-old daughter Willow.
Lt. Gov Sean Parnell will take over the leadership of the state, which elected Palin as its first female governor in 2006.
"We know we can effect positive change outside government," Palin said. "I know the time when its time to pass the ball for victory. Trust me with this decision."
While she will not seek reelection for Alaska governor in 2010, there has been talk she may make a bid for the White House in 2012, and pundits have speculated she may make run for the U.S. Senate – one of Alaska's two Senate seats is up for grabs in 2010.
"This comes as no surprise," says UC Santa Cruz professor Geoffrey Dunn, a political analyst who is writing a book about Palin due out later this year. "Palin clearly was detached and ineffective as governor since the 2008 presidential campaign. The day-to-day challenges of running a state simply did not mesh with her skill set or her personality. More importantly, she couldn't run for president from Wasilla."
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