Sarah Palin to resign as Alaskan Governor
Updated on 04 July 2009
Former vice-presidential running mate Sarah Palin has said she will resign this month and will not run for re-election as Alaskan Governor.
Mrs Palin, the surprise choice of Republican John McCain for the 2008 election, gave a brief news conference in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, with Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell and much of her state cabinet at her side.
The 45-year-old gave no indication of her future plans but said: "I'm not seeking re-election." She said she will transfer power to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell.
She added: "We are not retreating, we are advancing in a different direction. We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time."
Palin said her decision came after much "prayer and consideration" and she did not want to waste time on "political blood sport" and cited public criticism of her actions and her family since the 2008 campaign.
She continued: "You are naive if you don't see a full-court press right now on the national level picking apart a good point guard."
In November, Mrs Palin was cleared of wrongdoing in an abuse-of-power investigation into the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.
Last month, she signed a book deal for an undisclosed amount to tell her own story.
She said: "I look forward to helping others - to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence."
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