From The Times

July 27, 2009

Sarah Palin resigns as Alaska Governor to embark on political career

The captivating and at times vaudevillian career of Sarah Palin entered an unpredictable phase yesterday when she stepped down as the Governor of Alaska to try to forge a role as the voice of the Republican Party.

Mrs Palin, who announced her shock resignation on July 3 with 18 months of her term left to run, has remained coy about her ambitions but the move has increased speculation that she wants to make a bid for the White House in 2012.

Such a scenario delights many Democrats, who believe that because Mrs Palin is a controversial figure whose performance as John McCain’s running-mate damaged the Republican ticket, a presidential campaign would probably end in disaster.

She re-enters national politics dogged by ethics inquiries, big legal bills and fresh polls showing that most Americans no longer see her in a positive light and harbour doubts about her governing skills.