Governor Palin 4 President

Republicans & Democrats across Alaska are lining up to run for governor amid speculation that Governor Palin will not seek reelection in 2010. No candidate has yet filed papers with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Governor Palin’s office declined an opportunity to explain her thinking on the 2010 race, & the Republican Governors Association said it would not comment on discussions it has had with the governor.

But a number of Democrats and Republicans in Alaska & Washington who spoke to POLITICO believe her silence is a sign she will not pursue a 2nd term as governor so that she can play a larger role on the national political stage. At least 3 Democrats & 6 Republicans are mulling over runs as they wait on the governor to make her decision.

“There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection,” said Andrew Halcro, a former Republican state legislator who ran for governor as an independent candidate in 2006 and is weighing another run. “If you’re Palin, once you’ve flown first class, you don’t go back to coach. She’s been to the show & certainly seemed to like it there.”

“I have no doubt in my mind that, barring some unforeseen collapse on the national stage, she won’t seek reelection,” he added. “We don’t think she’s running,” said a Washington-based Democratic operative who is closely watching the gubernatorial race. “[There is a] 50-50 chance she runs for governor,” said a former Palin staffer involved in state Republican politics, noting, “If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career, it’s that she is full of surprises.”

The governor has not publicly committed one way or another, telling CNN two weeks ago that she is not “going to do anything yet.” “What I’m trying to get done for Alaska right now is to get that Alaska gas line built,” she said. “We need those energy sources flowing through North America. That’s what my focus is.”

“It’s going to be basically impossible to know what the governor is going to do,” said one potential Democratic candidate. “There is no upside for her in announcing early. She can raise all the money she wants.” Many of those who spoke to POLITICO speculated that Palin is likely to announce her intentions next spring, around the time she begins traveling the country as part of her expected book tour.

“If she files for reelection, the race is over, period. There is not a Republican or Democrat who can challenge her,” said the former Palin staffer. “If she doesn’t run, it’s a free-for-all.”
If Palin does decide to seek another term, questions about her national aspirations will be central to the campaign. “Whether you want to call it running for president or not, she’s doing it,” said the former Palin staffer. “If she runs for governor, though, she is going to have to answer the question: Are you going to get elected & then take off for Iowa?”

Full Article At:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24051.html#ixzz0JIF2umUl&D