Palin Focuses on Future at Glum GOP Event

Breaking from presidential-campaign habits with a press conference, Sarah Palin thanked supporters, mentioned Joe the Plumber, and dodged the obvious question about 2012 today at the Republican governors confab in Miami, the New York Times reports. “The future is not that 2012 Presidential race, it’s next year and our next budgets,” she said, citing opportunity in 36 gubernatorial races in 2010.

Palin said she wasn’t interested in discussing the 2008 race that cast an obvious shadow over the gathering, urging Republicans to develop new energy and health-care plans, and to keep a stiff upper lip. “We are the minority party,” she said. “Let us resolve not to be the negative party. Let us build our case with actions, not just with words.” (More Sarah Palin stories.)