September 02, 2008
Tuesday PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- She called it a long shot. A flattering impossibility. A question barely worth answering.

Gov. Sarah Palin has been answering questions about a potential run for vice president for more than a year.

In July, interviewed on a cable news show, she joked that someone would first have to tell her what it is exactly a vice president does. In June, she said that if she had to decide that day, she wouldn't run.

But she usually left the door open, saying she was generally interested.

Here's how the governor's take on running for office changed over the past year:

-- August 2007

"Real humbling, of course, that anybody would request or ask that that possibility be explored to run for vice president," Palin told KTUU Channel 2. "But I still say that there is so much to be done here, and there is so much that Alaska can do to contribute to the United States of America. And I think I can help and contribute by being governor."

-- September 2007

Palin said essentially the same thing when an Anchorage Daily News reporter asked if she'd ever imagined running for national office.

"That would all depend on the kids' situation, how they were doing and if they blessed such a move, but today, I'm not contemplating that, no," she said.

-- February 2008

In an online video interview with the Washington Post, Palin was asked if she would generally be interested in running for national office.

"That's a good way to put it -- is it generally something that I would want to consider," Palin replied. "And yes, I would. Somehow being able to be in a position to help our nation.

-- March 2008

Palin showed she could keep a secret by announcing she was seven months pregnant with her fifth child.

What did this mean for her political future?

"This is one of those circumstances that has kind of shifted our thinking. Certainly makes me very much so committed even to wanting to stay in Alaska," she told KIMO Channel 13. "I don't know how far in the future, but at some point, -- maybe there will be other doors open."

Around the same time, Palin talked to the Daily News about all the vice presidential gossip.

"I recognize that any of the buzz surrounds the fact that I happen to fit a demographic that is appealing to the ticket right now," Palin said. ".

As for her pregnancy, Palin said it didn't factor into her thoughts of a potential vice presidential bid.

"I'm very confident that a pregnant woman should not and doesn't have to be prohibited from doing anything, including running for vice president," Palin said.

On a potential run for Congress, she said:

"Eventually, years down the road, perhaps. And after my term or terms as governor, ... I can see a desire to, in a different venue, continue to try to help my state."

-- June 2008

Palin started the month with an appearance on the Glenn Beck show on CNN, where he asked,

"Would you go to that den of vipers in Washington if you were asked?"

Palin laughed. "You know if I had to make such a decision today, it would be no," she said. "There's a lot that Alaska could be, should be doing to contribute more to the U.S. And I think that I can help do that as governor of the state, staying here."

Later that month, Palin popped up on a series of national news shows to talk about energy and ANWR drilling, and everyone wanted to ask about the veep rumors. CNBC "Kuldow & Company" host Larry Kudlow played a clip of McCain praising Palin. He asked the governor if she would run beside McCain even though they disagreed on drilling for oil in ANWR.

"I'd like the opportunity to get to change his mind about ANWR, I'll tell you that," Palin said.

Around the same time, Fox Business Channel asked Palin if she was going to be McCain's pick.

"You'd have to ask Mr. McCain that," she said.

Back on CNN, Palin was asked once again if she'd run.

"They mention my name, and they also mention other governors' names," she said. "And I'm thankful for that, because I do think there needs to be a governor on the ticket. They know how to run government."

"But personally for me -- you know I think I've said this before -- for me it seems so out of the realm of possibility. I don't think it's going to happen this go around."

-- July 2008

When Palin returned to Kudlow's CNBC show, the host asked if the state investigation into her firing of her former public safety commissioner could disqualify her from running as vice president.

Palin said it shouldn't disqualify her from anything and that she hadn't done anything wrong.

"As for that VP talk all the time. I tell ya, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me -- what is it exactly that the VP does every day," she said.

You'd be surprised how big that VP job is, Kudlow said.

"Well this is a pretty cool job here too, though, as governor of Alaska," Palin replied.

-- August 2008

Mid-month, the Washington, D.C.-based newspaper Roll Call reported that the national Republican Party and national convention staff had asked Palin for position papers and copies of speeches from her 2006 bid for governor.

Palin told Roll Call she didn't consider that part of the official selection process for veep candidates.

Palin again described her chances of getting the nod as a long shot.

"I just think that's so far out of the realm of possibility," she told Roll Call.

SitNews ©2008
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