Gov. Tim Pawlenty was among those surprised by the resignation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Pawlenty was in Colorado when the news of Palin's decision broke Friday. He spoke to Minnesota Public Radio News at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

"I think part of it was just a personal decision for her and her family," Pawlenty said. "And it's an unusual decision or move on her part, but I think she may have just concluded that she's done what she can as governor and, at least for her and her circumstances and her family considerations, she wanted to move on."

Palin and Pawlenty had both been mentioned as possible Republican candidates for President in 2012.

Chuck Heath, Palin’s brother, on FNC talking about incessant attacks. Very emotional. “It’s weighed on her a long time.” Couldn’t effectively govern when having to defend herself against attacks.

In her statement, Palin referred to a series of ethics probes into her conduct as governor and previously as mayor of Wasilla, all of which she said lacked merit.

"My staff and I spend most of our day dealing with this instead of progressing our state now," Palin said. "This isn't what anyone had in mind for Alaska."

Alaska's Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a surprisingly harsh statement late on Friday, ripping Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to leave office at the end of the month. "I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded," Murkowski wrote.

Palin had announced mere months ago that she would help Murkowski raise money for her 2010 Senate race.

Senator John McCain expressed support for his former presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, on Saturday as Washington speculated about why the Alaska governor abruptly announced her resignation.  McCain made the comment a day after Palin stunned the political world by announcing she is stepping down with 18 months left in her term.

McCain had plucked Palin from obscurity to make her his vice presidential running mate in last year's presidential campaign won by Democrat Barack Obama.

"I have the greatest respect and affection for Sarah, Todd, and their family. I was deeply honored to have her as my running mate and believe she will continue to play an important leadership role in the Republican Party and our nation," McCain said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters.

As Fox News puts it, Palin will have "a variety of potential platforms, from writing books to hitting the public speaking circuit to working directly with the Republican Party to get candidates elected" from which to pursue her goals. And in the process, "the ability to make a lot of money  far more than the $125,000 or so a year she has earned as governor."

Despite the misstep, Palin enjoys an ability to connect with voters that cannot be taught. She drew larger crowds than McCain and became an overnight celebrity whose star power has stayed. She would have tremendous sway in Iowa, where the nation's first caucuses are held, and in South Carolina, where social conservatives drive the nominating process.

"She has a national base of social conservatives she can count on for anything," said Rich Killion, an adviser to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another likely 2012 candidate. "But I can't get over how she convinces a general election audience how quitting on her constituents is a good thing."

In what was a less than classy but predictable statement from the Democratic National Committee, spokesman Brad Woodhouse said :

"Either Sarah Palin is leaving the people of Alaska high and dry to pursue her long shot national political ambitions or she simply can't handle the job now that her popularity has dimmed and oil revenues are down. Either way – her decision to abandon her post and the people of Alaska who elected her continues a pattern of bizarre behavior that more than anything else may explain the decision she made today."

For whatever reasons, Sarah Palin decided to step down we support her. She has proven herself to not live by the status quo, to be her own person and make her own decisions.  This decision was not made in a day, there is no doubt that it was well thought out and we believe that we will know the true reason in time.

The only one who knows that reason is Sarah Palin and anyone else that attempts to say they know the reason is lying.

Our best to Governor Palin on her courageous decision.  We hope to see much more of you in the near future!

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