Washington - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was catapulted to national prominence as the Republican vice presidential candidate last year, will resign later this month, she said Friday. In a televised press conference from her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, she said she would hand over governing duties to Lieutentant Governor Sean Parnell and instead work to "affect positive poltical change outside of government."
"I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska even if it's not conventional," she told local reporters while surrounded by her husband and five children.
Palin has remained in the national political spotlight since serving as running mate to Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. Her name has been frequently mentioned by political commentators as a likely candidate to challenge President Barack Obama, a Democrat, 2012.
Palin became a favourite of much of the party's conservative base, but also became a frequent subject of comedians. She was derided for her poor performance in a series of interviews before the election and attacked for her personal life, including the pregnancy of her unwed teenage daughter.
