Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rekindled speculation about her 2012 plans Monday, offering a teasing response to a question about whether she or anybody else might still get involved in the presidential race.
"It's not too late for folks to jump in," Palin said during an interview on the Fox Business Network, according to advance excerpts. "Who knows what will happen in the future."
Earlier in the year, Palin appeared to shut the door on her White House aspirations, at least for this election cycle.
"After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for president of the United States," said Palin in a statement on her decision." As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order."
Palin may not be including herself in that list of "folks," and it's possible that she's simply referring to other potential figures, such as real estate mogul Donald Trump, who have been irresolute about their presidential ambitions. Earlier this month, Trump removed himself as moderator of a Republican debate because he refused to rule out mounting a third-party run later in 2012 should the GOP primary produce a candidate he finds unacceptable.
The comment could well recharge the energy of her persistent supporters, who just last month launched an ad in Iowa urging Palin to jump in the race due to dissatisfaction with the current field. That sentiment has apparently lingered among the ranks of many conservatives, as Tea Party leaders recently told the Associated Press that they remained "disappointed" with their choices.
If Palin remains a sideline figure in the 2012 elections, her eventual endorsement, which she has said she intends to give, will no doubt be a coveted possession. On Sunday, the former vice presidential candidate said she wasn't yet ready to decide who she would support. Real Clear Politics reported in November that her camp was considering backing former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who recently experienced a tumble in Iowa polls. Palin has also spoken favorably about former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who has largely failed to register as a force in GOP primary surveys, even in Iowa, where he has spent the vast majority of his time attempting to appeal to the state's social conservatives.
Palin's full interview will air on Fox Business Network’s "Follow the Money" at 10pm Monday night.