Politics

Palin Suggests An Eye On 2012 In Interview

WASHINGTON (CBS 5) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, speaks at a campaign rally at the Xunlight Corporation Oct. 29, 2008, in Toledo, Ohio.
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In an unusual move, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin acknowledged the possibility of defeat, saying she intended to remain a national figure even if the GOP ticket loses next week.

Palin told ABC News in an interview Wednesday that she would not disappear from the national political scene.

"Absolutely not. 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, that ... that would ... bring this whole ... I'm not doing this for naught," Palin said.

The comments add to speculation in recent days by some strategists both inside and outside the John McCain campaign that the Alaska governor is looking past this election cycle — hoping to boost her own profile for a possible presidential bid in 2012.

Top-level McCain campaign officials have referred to Palin in recent days as a "rogue," "diva," and even a "whackjob," according to CBS 5's partner The Politico.

McCain advisors have recently claimed Palin's gone off script from the campaign's road map and has been promoting her own agenda instead of McCain's.