Palin Called GOP Bigwigs Before Quitting

Soon-to-be-former Alaska governor focused on upcoming book

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin has no plans to take a new job, her lawyer tells the Washington Post. Though the departing Alaska governor has received “hundreds of credible offers”—including a pitch for a gig as a talk-show host—she hasn’t pursued any of them except a previously announced book deal, Thomas Van Flein says. More»

Poll finds support still strong with base, weak with swing voters

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin's surprise resignation has boosted her already strong ratings with Republican voters, according to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll. The poll found that GOP voters were slightly inclined to view her more favorably because of the move, although her ratings sank further among Democrats and Independents. Two-thirds of Republicans want Palin to be "a major national political figure" in the future, while three-quarters of Democrats hope she won't be. More»

Slams critics in first interview since resignation

(NEWSER) - Giving a round of TV interviews in her fishing gear, before heading out on a salmon-fishing excursion, soon-to-be-former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin slammed President Obama, her own party, and critical bloggers this morning—but wouldn’t say whether she plans to run for president. “Don’t know what the future holds. I’m not gonna shut any door,” she told ABC News. Could her resignation end her career? “Politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it,” she said. More»

Scandal speculation gives way to new theories

(NEWSER) - When Sarah Palin made her sudden exit, many expected a scandal to break. But "in the days since, it has become clear that no other shoe is likely to drop," writes Jay Newton-Small of Time, who offers five likely reasons she resigned Alaska's top job:

• For the good of the state: Palin was lauded for resigning in protest from Alaska’s oil and gas commission. She painted her gubernatorial resignation “in the same way: a selfless act that should earn her kudos for saving taxpayers' money.”

But Republican backers are more likely to vote

(NEWSER) - It's good news/bad news time, Democrats. Bad news: The public doesn’t much like you. In fact, a whopping 60% disapprove of the job you’re doing in the latest AP poll. Good news: They dislike Republicans even more; 68% disapprove of them, and Sarah Palin and George W. Bush are viewed significantly more negatively than President Obama. But more bad news: The people who dislike Democrats are more likely to actually vote. More»