Palin Will Step Down as Alaska’s Governor

At the end of this month, Sarah Palin will no longer be Alaska’s governor. The Thrilla from Wasilla made her announcement on Friday, sparking speculation that she may be preparing to run for president in 2012—or that she was compelled to resign for less opportune reasons.

Declaring that she doesn’t want to be another lame-duck politician, Palin said she will be on hand to swear in Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell at the end of the month and said, “I know when it’s time to pass the ball for victory.”

Update: Palin’s abrupt announcement, of course, is also striking some as a sign that she could be the subject of a scandal, including The Brad Blog’s Brad Friedman, TPM’s Josh Marshall and The Huffington Post’s Shannyn Moore. 

MSNBC:

She said the decision has been “in the works” for a while and comes after “prayer and consideration.”

She is handing the reins over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in on July 25. Parnell and most of Palin’s cabinet were present at the announcement.

“We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time on another scale and actually make a difference,” she said, adding that politics had become a “superficial, wasteful bloodsport.”

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Watch Palin’s announcement below:

msnbc.msn.com