It looks like the GOP field is set, and the cries of “run Sarah run” were ignored. Tonight Sarah Palin wrote on her Facebook page:
After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.
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. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.
From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. 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.
I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.
Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.
In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.
Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!
God bless America.
Sarah Palin
After the harsh treatment afforded to Sarah during the 2008 campaign and its aftermath, including her resignation as governor of Alaska, this decision isn’t all that surprising. Many pundits have opined that Sarah is such damaged goods as a candidate that she would have little to no chance of winning, but could do well with her broad base of supporters in doing just what she plans to do to help elect other candidates.
With that, and barring an extremely late change of heart by someone who’s decided against running this time, it appears the field of a dozen serious contenders for the Republican nomination is set. The remaining 8 to 10 percent of those polled who were pining for a Palin bid will now be free to gravitate to their second choice.
It’s worthy to note as well that Sarah has her own political action committee (SarahPAC) which can provide financial assistance to candidates she sees fit to back. And while her endorsement of Brian Murphy in last year’s race for governor of Maryland didn’t push him to victory, it placed him on the map and created a stir in state Republican circles.
Furthermore, as she tells radio host Mark Levin, not running leaves her “unshackled” and “allowed to be more active” in the effort to promote her brand of conservatism.
So there’s no Palin 2012 campaign. Since she’s only 47 years old, though, there’s plenty of time for her to gather her chits for a future run. I don’t think Sarah Palin is through with electoral politics and she sure as heck isn’t going away – you betcha.