ALASKA Governor Sarah Palin is stepping down and will not seek re-election.
In a surprise move, Mrs Palin, who is seen as a potential 2012 republican presidential candidate, said she would step aside as governor in "another few weeks".
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She will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell.
Mrs Palin, who was John McCain's running mate in his failed 2008 White House bid, told a press conference at her lakefront home in Wasilla, Alaska, that she wanted to "take a stand and effect change, not just hit our head against the wall and watch valuable state time and money''.
"I promised effectiveness. I am not wired to operate under the same old politics as usual. I promised that four years ago and I meant it,'' she said.
3 июл 2009
