ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced Wednesday that she will not be running for president in 2012, ending months of speculation about whether the popular Tea Party figure would seek the Republican nomination.
Palin announced her decision in a letter to her supporters written from Wasilla, saying the decision reflected her personal priorities.
“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,” Palin wrote in the letter. “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.”
Palin’s presidential prospects have been a matter of fierce dispute, with competing tell-all books and film projects vying to protray her record as Alaska’s governor from December 2006 until her resignation in July 2009 in a positive or negative light.While Palin retained a decent showing in polls against declared presidential candidates, over the summer numbers for her and other undeclared contenders like Texas Gov. Rick Perry suffered against candidates like Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann. Perry announced his presidential run in August, but some Republicans in pivotal states like New Hampshire said Palin’s continued delay had hurt her ability to campaign there.
