By Andy Barr
Top Republicans and Democrats across Alaska are quietly lining up to run for governor amid growing speculation that Sarah Palin will not seek reelection in 2010.
No candidate including Palin has yet filed papers with the
Alaska Public Offices Commission. Palins office declined an opportunity to explain her thinking on the 2010 race and the Republican Governors Association said it would not comment on discussions it has had with the governor.
But a number of Democrats and Republicans in Alaska and Washington believe her silence is a sign she will not pursue a second term as governor so that she can play a larger role on the national political stage.
At least three Democrats and six Republicans are mulling over runs as they wait on the governor to make her decision.
There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection" said Andrew Halcro a former Republican state legislator who ran for governor as an independent candidate in 2006 and is weighing another run. If youre Palin once youve flown first class you dont go back to coach. Shes been to the show and certainly seemed to like it there."
I have no doubt in my mind that barring some unforeseen collapse on the national stage she wont seek reelection" he added.
We dont think shes running" said a Washington-based Democratic operative who is closely watching the gubernatorial race.
There is a 50-50 chance she runs for governor" said a former Palin staffer involved in state Republican politics noting If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career its that she is full of surprises."
The governor has not publicly committed one way or another telling CNN two weeks ago that she is not going to do anything yet."
What Im trying to get done for Alaska right now is to get that Alaska gas line built" she said. We need those energy sources flowing through North America. Thats what my focus is."
Alaska pols expect Palin to wait as long as she can before announcing her intentions in order to keep her options open and to minimize the time she would be a lame duck if she declines to run again.
In 2006 Palin spent $304000 in trouncing incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski and former state Sen.
John Binkley in the Republican primary. In the general she and running mate Sean Parnell spent an additional $1.15 million to beat former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles 48 percent to 41 percent.
The Alaska governor would not be able to tap her vast national fundraising network for the statewide race as Alaska sets a low cap on the amount of money a candidate can raise from outside the state. But her ability to quickly raise cash from around Alaska has been bolstered by her vice presidential run and remains unrivaled several Alaska sources asserted.
Its going to be basically impossible to know what the governor is going to do" said one potential Democratic candidate. There is no upside for her in announcing early. She can raise all the money she wants."
By Andy Barr
Top Republicans and Democrats across Alaska are quietly lining up to run for governor amid growing speculation that Sarah Palin will not seek reelection in 2010.
No candidate including Palin has yet filed papers with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Palins office declined an opportunity to explain her thinking on the 2010 race and the Republican Governors Association said it would not comment on discussions it has had with the governor.
But a number of Democrats and Republicans in Alaska and Washington believe her silence is a sign she will not pursue a second term as governor so that she can play a larger role on the national political stage.
At least three Democrats and six Republicans are mulling over runs as they wait on the governor to make her decision.
There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection" said Andrew Halcro a former Republican state legislator who ran for governor as an independent candidate in 2006 and is weighing another run. If youre Palin once youve flown first class you dont go back to coach. Shes been to the show and certainly seemed to like it there."
I have no doubt in my mind that barring some unforeseen collapse on the national stage she wont seek reelection" he added.
We dont think shes running" said a Washington-based Democratic operative who is closely watching the gubernatorial race.
There is a 50-50 chance she runs for governor" said a former Palin staffer involved in state Republican politics noting If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career its that she is full of surprises."
The governor has not publicly committed one way or another telling CNN two weeks ago that she is not going to do anything yet."
What Im trying to get done for Alaska right now is to get that Alaska gas line built" she said. We need those energy sources flowing through North America. Thats what my focus is."
Alaska pols expect Palin to wait as long as she can before announcing her intentions in order to keep her options open and to minimize the time she would be a lame duck if she declines to run again.
In 2006 Palin spent $304000 in trouncing incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski and former state Sen. John Binkley in the Republican primary. In the general she and running mate Sean Parnell spent an additional $1.15 million to beat former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles 48 percent to 41 percent.
The Alaska governor would not be able to tap her vast national fundraising network for the statewide race as Alaska sets a low cap on the amount of money a candidate can raise from outside the state. But her ability to quickly raise cash from around Alaska has been bolstered by her vice presidential run and remains unrivaled several Alaska sources asserted.
Its going to be basically impossible to know what the governor is going to do" said one potential Democratic candidate. There is no upside for her in announcing early. She can raise all the money she wants."
