(From Guardian UK) Sarah Palin yesterday increased speculation over her intentions to remain in the presidential hunt for 2012, remarking pointedly that "I'm not doing this for naught," when asked about her political future.
Palin's prospects as a presidential nominee in four years' time have sparked heated debate inside the Republican party, while angering some in the McCain camp who privately fret that their number two is "going rogue".
Her remarks to ABC news are unlikely to quiet that internal tension. When asked about mounting a campaign in 2012, if McCain loses on Tuesday, Palin said she is "thinking that it's going to go our way" but declared she would not return to Alaska if she failed.
"Absolutely not," Palin told ABC. "I think that if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we've taken ... I'm not doing this for naught."
ABC news issued an initial press release interpreting the phrase as a promise to be a "player in 2012".
That drew fire from Republicans last night. Palin adviser Tucker Eskew told reporters travelling with the candidate that ABC had apologised for "a terrifically misleading headline" on the interview, according to the New York Times.
Eskew said: "I think it's a time for us, as this campaign builds an occasionally acknowledged but real momentum towards a very fast-approaching Election Day, that this record get corrected … [Palin] felt there was an error."
ABC later sent out a second transcript of the Palin interview without a 2012-related headline, but the early coverage ensured questions over the Alaska governor's political ambitions would continue for another day.
Palin was asked during the ABC interview about her suggestions during campaign rallies that Barack Obama is less American than McCain, particularly her quip that the Democrat was "palling around with terrorists" – a reference to Obama's past link to 1960s radical Bill Ayers. Challenged on that issue, the vice-presidential nominee notably softened her rhetoric.
"I am sure that Senator Obama cares as much for this country as McCain does," Palin said.
Meanwhile, McCain defended his running mate during a separate interview last night with CNN, telling chat-show host Larry King that he has "total" confidence in Palin's ability to assume the presidency, should circumstances necessitate it.
"She not only would take over, she would inspire Americans," McCain said, calling Palin the "most popular governor in America".
Although Palin's popularity rating in Alaska had neared 90% before she joined the Republican ticket, her current 63% approval means that she no longer holds the title of the most popular US governor.
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