WASILA, Alaska (AP) - Not only has Sarah Palin decided not to
run for re-election as Alaska governor -- she's decided to leave
office at the end of this month.
It's adding to speculation that she's going to focus on a run
for the White House in 2012.
The surprise announcement was made at Palin's home in Wasila.
The former GOP vice presidential candidate says she'll step down
on July 26. But she's not announcing her plans after that.
In a statement released by her office, Palin says once she made
the decision not to seek re-election, she also decided that if she
were to "embrace the conventional Lame Duck status," it would
amount to "another dose of politics as usual."
She said that's something she "campaigned against and will
always oppose."