Sarah Palin

A look at the former Republican vice presidential nominee and former governor of Alaska. Palin has announced that she isn’t running for the presidency in the 2012 election.

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Sept. 5, 2011

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin waves to supporters before addressing a Tea Party Express Rally in Manchester, N.H.

Stephan Savoia / AP

Sept. 3, 2011

Todd Palin prepares to sign a cardboard cutout of his wife, Sarah Palin, during the Tea Party of America's "Restoring America" event at the Indianola Balloon Festival Grounds in Indianola, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / GETTY IMAGES

Sept. 3, 2011

Sarah Palin walks on stage at the Restoring America event.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 3, 2011

Tea party supporters stand in the rain as they listen to the Pledge of Allegiance during the event in Iowa.

Scott Olson / GETTY IMAGES

Sept. 3, 2011

An elderly woman takes shelter from the rain at the rally in Iowa.

Scott Olson / GETTY IMAGES

Aug. 12, 2011

Sarah Palin looks at Super Bull Champion Bubba during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

June 29, 2011

Sarah Palin greet fans at the Best Buy Rotunda at Mall of America in Bloomington.

Adam Bettcher / Getty Images

June 28, 2011

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, greets a child in downtown Pella, Iowa on before attending the first public screening of "The Undefeated," a documentary about her rise in politics.

Ryan J. Foley / AP

May 31, 2011

Sue Boardman, left, a tour guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park, points out an interesting design feature in a monument to Palin, center, and others.

Timothy Jacobsen / AP

May 31, 2011

Sarah Palin, center, visits a Civil War-era cemetery during a tour of Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pa., with family and friends as part of her bus tour.

Timothy Jacobsen / AP

May 30, 2011

Palin greets supporters outside the National Archives in Washington.

Rachel Weiner / The Washington Post

May 30, 2011

Palin's tour bus, which she will be using to travel around the Northeast, in Washington.

Rachel Weiner / The Washington Post

May 29, 2011

Palin talks to fellow riders during the Rolling Thunder ride. Palin's decision to make the ride a kickoff stop in a week-long tour of the Northeast caused consternation among some attendees while renewing speculation about her political future.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

May 29, 2011

Palin brought some chaos and political buzz to the 24th annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride in Washington, riding into the Pentagon parking lot on the back of a Harley and quickly drawing a crowd of reporters, fans and gawkers.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

May 2, 2011

Sarah Palin gives a thumbs up after speaking at a fundraiser at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colo. The event raised money for a charity for families of fallen service members.

Ed Andrieski / AP

April 16, 2011

Palin speaks at a tax day tea party rally in Madison, Wis.

Morry Gash / AP

March 20, 2011

Sarah Palin departs the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem.

Uriel Sinai / Getty Images

March 19, 2011

Sarah Palin speaks at a conference organized by a media house in New Delhi. Palin highlighted U.S.-Indian relations while sounding a warning note on China.

/ AP/India Today

The cover of "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin," by Frank Bailey, A former member of Palin's inner circle has written a scathing tell-all, saying Palin was ready to quit as governor months before she actually resigned and was eager to leave office when more lucrative opportunities came around.

/ AP

Feb. 17, 2011

Palin answers questions at a public appearance at a Long Island Association meeting and luncheon in Woodbury, N.Y., on Feb. 17, 2011.

Craig Ruttle / AP

November 2010

In her book, Sarah Palin writes about Levi Johnston, the estranged father of her grandson, saying it's "disgusting" to watch Johnston exploit his sudden fame.

Eric Thayer / Getty Images

November 2010

Palin signs her book "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag" in Phoenix. Palin kicked off a 16-stop tour for the book, which follows her best-selling 2009 memoir "Going Rogue."

Eric Thayer / Getty Images

Oct. 16, 2010

Sarah Palin speaks at the Republican National Committee victory rally, Oct. 16, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif.

Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images

July 2, 2010

Palin prepares to head upriver to see the fish-counting in Dillingham, Alaska, on July 2, 2010.

Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

2009

Sarah Palin autographs copies of her book "Going Rogue" at BJ's Wholesale Club in Fairfax.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

September 2009

Sarah Palin traveled to Asia in September 2009 to speak at an investors' forum in Hong Kong. To some, this signaled that the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee may be expanding her horizons ahead of a possible presidential run in 2012.

Jeff Topping / Reuters

November 2008

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, joined John McCain on election night in Phoenix, where the Republicans conceded defeat. The book "Sarah From Alaska" reveals that victory and concession speeches were written for Palin, but neither was delivered.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

October 2008

When Sarah Palin (that's really her, not Tina Fey) appeared on "Saturday Night Live" with Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers three weeks before the 2008 election, the comedy show drew 15 million viewers, its biggest audience in 14 years.

Dana Edelson / Reuters

September 2008

A turning point in the 2008 general campaign came when Sarah Palin fumbled the answers to a few questions from Katie Couric during a September sit-down interview that aired on CBS. The interview ignited critics on the left and right.

/ "CBS Evening News"

July 26, 2009

On July 26, 2009, Sarah Palin handed over the Alaska governorship to Sean Parnell. CBS News described Palin's resignation speech as "rambling and sometimes confusing," adding fuel to the fire between Palin supporters and detractors.

Al Grillo / AP

June 2008

Then-Gov. Sarah Palin, holding baby Trig, discusses high food prices with constituent Laurie Serino in a Barrow, Alaska, supermarket in June 2008. When Trig, who has Down syndrome, was born two months earlier, the Palins said: "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives."

Al Grillo / AP

Oct. 2, 2008

Winking during the vice presidential debate with then-Sen. Joe Biden on Oct. 2, 2008, didn't help Sarah Palin's popularity with some segments of the population. But that, combined with her folksy manner, played well in the heartland.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Dec. 4, 2006

Todd Palin holds a Bible as his wife, Sarah, is sworn in as governor of Alaska on Dec. 4, 2006, a position that paved the way for her rapid ascent to the national political stage less than two years later.

Al Grillo / AP

September 2008

Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is handed a giant lipstick as she greets supporters at The Villages, Fla., in 2008. The battleground state and its 27 delegates went to Obama-Biden in the November election.

Joe Burbank / AP

An attendee looks at books about Palin at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Palin did not attend the event and has declined an invitation to be a keynote speaker.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

September 2008

The Palin family greets eventual Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his wife, Cindy, after he arrives in Minneapolis before the Republican National Convention in neighboring St. Paul in September 2008.

Susan Walsh / AP

February 2011

Sarah Palin speaks at a Reagan centennial event hosted by the Young Americans Foundation at the Reagan Ranch Center.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

February 2011

Palin arrives at the Reagan 100 Opening Reception and Dinner in February 2011, in honor of what would have been the 40th president's 100th birthday.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

February 2008

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives husband Todd Palin a hug at the beginning of the Tesoro Iron Dog race in February 2008. The snowmobile race, which the "First Dude" has won four times, crosses 2,000 miles of Alaska wilderness, from Nome to Fairbanks.

Bill Roth / AP

May 2010

Sarah Palin greets people at the Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho, in May 2010. Strategists do not discount Palin's potential appeal, but if she runs, she will have to overcome doubts that some other candidates don't face.

Ashley Smith / AP

1984

The former Sarah Heath won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant in 1984. With the victory she qualified for the Miss Alaska pageant, in which she played the flute during the talent portion.

Mat-Su Valley / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

In this image released by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Washington USA 2012, Christina Clarke; Miss West Virginia USA 2012, Andrea Rogers; and Miss Wisconsin USA 2012, Emily Guerin compete in their swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on May 30, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 MISS USA Pageant will air LIVE on NBC June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Theatre for Performing Arts in Las Vegas. = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe Organization / DARREN DECKER' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS =DARREN DECKER/AFP/GettyImages

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Jon Stewart attends the Sesame Street Workshop 10th Annual Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 30, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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Jon Stewart, Justin Bieber, Bruce Springsteen, Lil Wayne, Michelle Williams and other celebrities.

The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen in a camera on the end of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as it moves away from the station in preparation for its return to earth in this image from NASA TV May 31, 2012. REUTERS/NASA TV (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

SpaceX prepares to return home

The SpaceX Dragon capsule detached from the international space station Thursday morning.

Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. A gunman opened fire at a Seattle cafe earlier Wednesday, killing three people and critically wounding two others and later a man believed to be the same suspect shot and killed a woman and took her car near downtown, abandoning it less than two miles from where the alleged shooter shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said. His condition wasn't immediately known. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Gunman kills five, shoots himself in Seattle

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LANDOVER, MD May 30, 2012 U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) hits a crossing pass to forward Herculez Gomez (9) for their 1st half goal against Brazil Men's National Team goalie Rafael (12) on May 30, 2012 in Landover, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Brazil too much for U.S. to handle

Herculez Gomez scores just before halftime, but Brazil runs away with a 4-1 victory.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

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HANDOUT PHOTO: Camera men film as the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew, U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, blasts off from it's launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome, May 15, 2012. (Courtesy of Shamil Zhumatov/ADAY.org)

A snapshot of life

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