Jim DeMint: Sarah Palin 'Doesn't Appear' Likely To Run For President In 2012 (VIDEO)

Conservative Superpower Weighs In On Likelihood Of Palin Candidacy

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is weighing in on speculation swirling around whether Sarah Palin will run for president in the next election cycle.

The South Carolina senator told CBS News that "it doesn't appear" likely that the former Alaska governor is prepared to jump into the race for the Republican presidential nomination. He added, however, "She's done a lot, I think, to engage the American people and stir things up, which we really needed to do, to get American citizens more involved in the process. It made a big difference in the last election. My hope is it'll make an even bigger difference in the next election, as people take back their government."

DeMint is hosting Monday's Palmetto Freedom Forum. The GOP primary event is drawing a list of big name candidates, which includes former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and former Godfathers's Pizza CEO Herman Cain.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who was initially expected to participate in the forum, is heading back home to deal with wildfires plaguing the Lone Star State.

As for Palin, the former governor has yet to confirm whether or not she intends to vie for the White House in 2012. Nevertheless, she kept buzz about her presidential ambitions alive with a speech she delivered at a Tea Party rally in Iowa over the weekend.

According to a recent Fox News poll, 71 percent of Republicans say Palin should stick to the sidelines in the presidential race.

Exeter Patch reports that Palin is expected to make an appearance at an event hosted by the Tea Party Express in New Hampshire on Monday.

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