FORMER REPUBLICAN vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will step down as governor of Alaska at the end of this month, more than a year ahead of the end of her term in office.
Ms Palin, who has been tipped as a possible presidential candidate in 2012, said that “faith and family” were now her priorities.
She made the announcement at her home in Wasilla, with her husband Todd and her family by her side.
Ms Palin said she had discussed the decision with her family and it had been “in the works” for some time.
“We know we can effect positive change outside office at this moment in time and actually make a difference for our priorities and we certainly will, for Alaskans and for Americans,” she said.
“I really don’t want to disappoint anyone with this announcement. All I can ask is that you trust me with this decision and know that it is no more politics as usual.”
Political analysts had long speculated that Ms Palin would not seek a second term as governor if she wanted to run for president in 2012. She said yesterday that, once she decided not to run for a second term as governor, she determined that she did not wish to become a lame-duck governor.
Her decision not to complete her term in office surprised most observers but her remarks yesterday suggested that she foresees a role on the national stage.
Ms Palin cited criticism of her family as one of the reasons she wanted to leave the “political blood sport” behind her, adding that the criticism was in danger of harming Alaska.
She said she would hand power within weeks to Alaska’s lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell.
