Sarah Palin has announced that she won’t seek the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential election, USA Today is reporting. The former 2008 vice presidential nominee confirmed the news via a statement she released from her Wasilla, Alaska home. She added that she can be more effective helping other Republicans win office “from the nation’s governors to congressional seats and the presidency.”
The news of Palin’s decision comes after another Republican presidential nominee front-runner, New Jersey Chris Christie, stated at a news conference held in Trenton that he, too, won’t be running. With Palin and Christie dropping out, that leaves former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry and pizza entrepreneur Herman Cain as the current leads to grab the nomination.
Palin wasn’t expected to run since Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann entered the race and saw an increase in popularity in the Iowa straw poll. The presence of Cain, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich also seemed to lower the chances of Palin running.
Arizona Senator John McCain, Palin’s presidential running mate in 2008, took to Twitter after Palin’s announcement, saying she will “continue to play an important role in our party and for our nation.” The former Alaska governord agree with McCain, telling Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren “You don’t need a title to make a difference in this country.”
Written by: Karen Benardello
