Palin says she will not run for president in ’12

October 6, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Los Angeles Times

The other shoe, this one a stiletto, has dropped.

One day after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced he would not vie for the Republican presidential nomination, the only other Republican with the power to shake up the field announced that she would not run either.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, 47, released a letter to supporters Wednesday telling them that “after much prayer and serious consideration” she had decided not to seek the GOP nomination for 2012. The letter, first posted by ABC News on its website, was later emailed to reporters.

“As always,” she wrote, “my family comes first.”

Palin will continue be involved in politics, however, and vowed to flex her muscle as avatar for the tea- party wing of her party. The group’s successes in the 2010 midterm elections, she wrote, played a part in her determination not to run.

“My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year,” Palin wrote. “I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office ... ”

Thus ends a guessing game that began when she returned to Alaska after her defeat as Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential running mate in 2008.

After stepping down as governor in July 2009, Palin carved out a successful career as a Fox News commentator, author, public speaker and reality- television star.

Over the last five months, Palin seemed to delight in keeping the media and her supporters in the dark. Many speculated that she was behaving like a candidate — first launching a “One Nation” bus tour to historical East Coast sites, then stealing a bit of the GOP candidates’ thunder by showing up at the Iowa State Fair the day before the Ames Straw Poll in August.