Speaking from her home in Wasilla, Sarah Palin quoted Douglas MacArthur as she explained why would resign as Alaska governor: "We're not retreating, we are advancing in another direction."

Palin said that as she considered this move, she polled her family and put the choice to them this way: "Do you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?"

For everyone trying to read 2012 tea leaves from today's stunning announcement, those are just some of the clues. As for the decision to resign, she said that came about once she decided to not run for re-election in 2010. That would make her a lame duck, she said, something she's not "wired" to be.

"Many just accept that lame duck status, and they hit the road, they draw a paycheck - they kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that," she said. "I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional, and it's not so comfortable."

(Corrected) She addressed a list of accomplishments from her tenure -- especially a framework for constructing a natural gas pipeline. But she focused just as much on her general political style, of shaking up "politics as usual."

And she used a sports analogy, using the current president's favorite sport, as she spoke of the unrelenting criticism she's faced since being catapulted onto the national stage.

"You are naïve if you do not see a full-court press from the national press picking away right now a good point guard," she said. Talking of herself in the third person, she continued: "She drives through a full-court press, protecting the ball, keeping her head up because she needs to keep her eye on the basket. And she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And that is what I'm doing, keeping our eye on the ball."

She did take one swipe at the Obama administration, as she encouraged others not to be dissuaded from entering politics by her experience today. "We need hardworking, average Americans fighting for what's right, and I will support you because we need you," she siad. "We need those who will respect our Constitution, where government's supposed to serve from the bottom up and not move toward this top-down big government takeover. But rather, will be protectors of individual rights, who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed, and they're willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it's time so the team can win."

In the end, this was a telling line from her remarks today: "Don't explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway."

UPDATE: KTUU-TV in Anchorage reports that Palin not only won't seek re-election, but will resign later this month.

ORIGINAL POST: Gov. Sarah Palin (R) has announced she will not run for re-election in 2010, CNN reports. She's scheduled to make an announcement shortly.

The decision frees Palin to travel in the Lower 48 as she considers a potential run for president in 2012. A re-election campaign could also have been tough on the former vice presidential nominee; her approval rating has dropped from stratospheric highs, and a number of candidates in both parties are said to be considering runs. Even if she won, the race would have been dominated by the specter of a presidential bid, giving her adversaries an opportunity to wound her politically. She's still fending off ethics complaints, many spurred by the "Troopergate" scandal.

It's becoming a more common story across the country: governors forced to make unpopular budget decisions taking a hit in the polls. Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) is today's example, as a new Quinnipiac Poll shows his approval ratings continuing to drop and Republicans neck-and-neck in 2010 matchups.

Strickland Job Performance
Approve 46 (-11 from May)
Disapprove 42 (+13)

Strickland's approval rating was as high as 63 percent just five months ago. His favorability number has also slipped, from a net +28 (53/25) to +5 (42/37) since May. Only 33 percent of voters approve of his handling of the economy, with 53 percent disapproving, and 32 percent approve of his handling of the state budget. But voters do support his proposed fix for the state budget, legalizing casino gambling, 60-36 percent.

At this point, former Rep. John Kasich is the only Republican in the race to challenge him. Quinnipiac also polls a potential matchup with former Sen. Mike DeWine.

General Election Matchups
Strickland 43 (-8 from May)
Kasich 38 (+6)
Undecided 16 (unch)

Strickland 41 (-7)
DeWine 40 (+4)
Undecided 15 (+1)

Kasich now leads a potential Republican primary race over DeWine 35-32. DeWine had lead 35-23 in May, before Kasich kicked off his campaign.

The telephone survey of 1,259 voters was conducted June 26-July 1, and had a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.

Courtesy of the University of New Hampshire, we get our first test of how state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (R) polls in a hypothetical matchup for U.S. Senate against Rep. Paul Hodes (D). Ayotte has been the subject of speculation for weeks now, and as other candidates rule themselves out, she may be the best shot Granite State Republicans have to hold onto Judd Gregg's seat in 2010.

General Election Matchup
Ayotte 39
Hodes 35
Undecided 24

Hodes 40
Bass 38
Undecided 20

Hodes 45
Tausch 25
Undecided 29

Former Rep. Charlie Bass (R) has not indicated his plans yet, with the Senate race among his options if he returns to politics. Fred Tausch (R) is signaling he's likely to run, and is now airing TV ads to build his name ID. UNH also tested Hodes against Sununu and found the former senator trailing 43-41; he announced yesterday he would not run for the seat.

Fav/Unfav Ratings
Gregg 53/24
Shaheen 50/36
Hodes 32/23
Ayotte 40/8
Bass 33/23
Tausch 5/4
LaMontagne 5/4

Even Hodes, the second district congressman, has work to do to build his statewide profile. Forty percent of state voters were unfamiliar with Ayotte; the New Hampshire attorney general is an appointed position. Tausch and attorney Ovide LaMontagne, another potential Senate candidate, have almost no statewide profile.

The UNH survey of 558 adults was conducted from June 24-July 1, and had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chalked up today's job numbers as a result of "George Bush's failed economic policies," and said the Republican Party's response to helping fix the economy continues to be, "No."

The economy lost 467,000 jobs last month and unemployment is at its highest point in a quarter-century, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Much of the jobs lost during this 16 months-and-counting recession took place during the Bush administration, though Republicans have focused their attacks on the fact that the Democrat-written stimulus plan doesn't appear to have slowed it down.

"Times are tough, Americans deserve more than Republicans' no jobs and no solutions, and no progress commitment to the status quo," said DCCC spokesperson Jennifer Crider. "Republicans ought to roll their sleeves up and work with President Obama and House Democrats on turning the economy around."

Before speaking publicly today, President Obama addresses the new unemployment figures in an interview with the Associated Press.

With joblessness rising, President Barack Obama said Thursday he was "deeply concerned" about unemployment and conceded that too many families are worried about "whether they will be next" to suffer economically.

In a White House interview with The Associated Press, Obama said that since he took office, "we have successfully stabilized the financial markets," and "started to see some stabilization on housing."

"But what we are still seeing is too many jobs lost," said Obama, commenting after new government figures showed the unemployment rate had risen to 9.5 percent last month.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds is set to receive the endorsement of close to 50 members of the Virginia business community, including Washington Capitals majority owner Ted Leonsis.

Deeds will appear here this morning with Leonsis and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) at the Capitals practice rink. Leonsis is chairing a group called Business Leaders for Deeds -- other than donating money, this is the first time the former America Online executive has stepped forward to prominently endorse a candidate for office, according to a Warner aide.

"I am impressed by Creigh's focus on quality education, technology and innovation as cornerstones of Virginia's economic future," Leonsis will say.

Warner, who made his money in the high-tech field before running for public office, will say, "I have known and worked closely with many of these community and business leaders, and I appreciate their willingness to step up and support Creigh's bipartisan focus on producing real results that move Virginia forward."

As Deeds receives an endorsement from the business community, the Bob McDonnell campaign is highlighting a recent $500,000 donation given to Deeds by the AFSCME, as well as $100,000 from another national labor union, the SEIU.

--Kyle Trygstad

As job numbers continue to worsen, Republicans are debuting a new mascot in their campaign against the Democrats' stimulus plan: Ellie Mae, a job-seeking bloodhound. In a web video released this morning by the office of House Minority Leader John Boehner, Ellie Mae goes on "the money trail" in search of jobs: from AIG headquarters, to Wisconsin and North Carolina.

"I'm John Boehner; this is Ellie Mae," the congressman says in the ad. "She hasn't found any stimulus jobs yet, and neither have the American people. It's time to stop run away spending in Washington and help small businesses get the economy running again. Hang in there, honey, we'll find 'em."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this morning that 467,000 jobs were lost last month -- higher than projected -- and the unemployment rate ticked up some to 9.5 percent.

"This is a lighthearted web video, but the underlying point is no laughing matter," Boehner states in a press release. "At a time when Americans are looking to Washington for leadership, the trillion-dollar 'stimulus' isn't working."

Happy 2nd of July, Washington. Today, President Obama squeezes in some business before like many Americans, he sneaks out of town ahead of the long weekend. He'll meet this afternoon with the leaders of companies that the White House says are creating jobs even in a tough economy. He'll then deliver remarks about innovation in the Rose Garden, before heading off to Camp David for some R-and-R.

The president is talking jobs as new employment figures come out. The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this morning that the economy lost 467,000 jobs and the unemployment rate changed little -- rising to 9.5 percent.

Still on a week-long recess, the Senate returns Monday to vote on the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. The House returns Tuesday afternoon.

Continue reading "Strategy Memo: Break Time" »

Former Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), who lost his re-election bid last year to former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D), announced today that he will not run for Sen. Judd Gregg's (R) seat in 2010. Here's his statement:

"Representing New Hampshire in the United States Senate is a great honor, but effective public service is much more than just a desire to hold office. It's essential that the timing fit both personally and professionally.

This year I've made commitments to serve several technology firms, begun working with a number of non-profit policy groups, and continue to serve on the Congressional Oversight Panel for the TARP.

Equally important, campaigns require great sacrifice from family. After running in seven primary and general elections over twelve years, my family still means more to me than anything else. I very much intend to keep it that way."

The statement also notes the many activities keeping Sununu busy, including posts on the boards of Time Warner Cable, Boston Scientific, and ConvergEx Group, serving on the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Treasury's TARP program, and on the Middle East Working Group for the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Sununu's decision means that Rep. Paul Hodes (D) is still unopposed, though several Republicans are still considering the race. Washington Republicans are hoping that state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte will enter. Businessman Fred Tausch has also emerged this week as a potential candidate for Republicans, though one New Hampshire blog noted that he donated late last year to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Granite State Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley said that Sununu's decision "comes as no surprise." "Paul Hodes is a terrific leader with a record of delivering for the people of New Hampshire," he said in a statement. "He is a superb candidate and we are confident that he will be successful in 2010."

We noted last week that state Rep. Nikki Haley (R), an ally of Gov. Mark Sanford (R) and a candidate to replace him in the 2010 election, used the debate over whether he should resign to attack a potential rival, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R). Now, in a sign of just how quickly Sanford's situation is deteriorating, she suggests that his additional revelations may require him to step down for good.

"There are no words to describe the disappointment I feel over the revelations of the past week," Haley says in a statement this afternoon. "The people of South Carolina have heard enough about the governor's personal life. We do not need to hear any more of that. What we do need to hear from the governor is an explanation as to how he can lead our state going forward. He has a responsibility to outline what he wants to accomplish over the next 18 months and how he intends to accomplish it. I remain willing to listen to that case, but if he cannot make it convincingly, then he must move on."

Republican nominee Bob McDonnell challenged his Virginia gubernatorial opponent, Creigh Deeds, to a series of 10 debates leading up to the November election. The Deeds campaign responded today by calling for a debate schedule similar to the 2005 race between Tim Kaine and Jerry Kilgore.

In a letter to Deeds this morning, McDonnell campaign manager Phil Cox proposed the debates begin with the already-scheduled July 25 event in Deeds' home of Bath County and end Oct. 20 on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Other dates proposed incorporate invitations the campaigns have received, including a CNN event in Washington, D.C., and a YouTube/WJLA-TV/Politico event in Arlington.

"I hope Creigh will agree that Virginians deserve to hear from the two candidates for Virginia's highest office directly, and together, as often as is possible," McDonnell said this morning. "I look forward to receiving Creigh's positive reply to this proposal for a formal series of ten gubernatorial debates."

This afternoon Deeds spokesman Jared Leopold responded by saying Deeds is "eager to compare" their records and that he "participated in numerous debates and joint appearances in the primary."

"The Deeds campaign will work with community and news organizations and the McDonnell campaign to schedule a series of debates, so that all Virginians have the opportunity to hear the stark differences between the two candidates," Leopold said. "We expect the number of debates to be in line with precedent from the 2005 Kaine-Kilgore and Deeds-McDonnell debate schedules."

The White House has submitted to Congress its annual list of staff salaries, which shows more of President Obama's top lieutenants earning top dollar.

The information lists salary information for 455 White House employees, with the average salary clocking in at $77,320. The median wage is $62,000, which means that as many employees earn more than that as earn less. Fifty-one staffers earn the minimum, $36,000, while 22 earn the maximum: $172,200. That list includes the marquee names of the Obama West Wing, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, press secretary Robert Gibbs, senior adviser David Axelrod, and 28-year-old head of speechwriting Jon Favreau (full list after the jump). All told 123 employees, about one in four, earned six-figures.

For comparison sake, 447 staffers in the Bush administration in 2008 earned an average of $74,257, with the median wage being $55,400. A White House official said that unlike past years, the Obama administration is including the salary information for members of the National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council.

Continue reading "The White House's $172,000 Men (And Women)" »

The Hill's Reid Wilson, a former RCP-er, profiles Jenny Sanford -- backseat driver for the political career of her husband, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford:

The first lady has been intimately involved in her husband's political career and has served as his closest adviser, according to sources close to Sanford. She's acted as a fiercely loyal enforcer, sounding board and crisis manager, they said.

So Jenny Sanford's seeming nonchalance about her husband's itinerary over Father's Day weekend and subsequent comments that indicated she cared little about her husband's political future "lent credence to rumors that no one wanted to believe," said one South Carolina Republican operative who asked not to be named.

With calls for his resignation mounting, Sanford may have been fatally wounded by the absence of the person who has served as his most trusted and, by many accounts, most valuable adviser throughout his career, South Carolina political watchers now say.

And now, the first lady has little incentive to make a quick return to her husband's side.

South Carolina Democrats have steadily been ratcheting up their criticism of Gov. Mark Sanford (R) since their initial public statement after he announced marital infedility. But now, they're on record calling for him to resign. Party chair Carol Fowler:

"While I believe an investigation should still be done to determine the full extent of Mark Sanford's abuse of power, though [sic] his long stream of confessions he has already revealed enough immoral and reprehensible behavior to justify asking him to step done. State officials seem unable to do anything except worry and talk about Governor Sanford's extramarital affair, which we learn more about every few hours.  Every day that is spent not focused on the issues that matter the most to our state, particularly jobs and education, is another day that our state suffers. Every day that members of the General Assembly spend talking about Sanford's state-funded romance is another day these Republican leaders aren't tackling the rising unemployment numbers or the plight of our public schools.  South Carolina can't afford to be at a standstill for the next 18 months with a governor who ignores his job responsibilities while pursuing personal interests. Any other worker in South Carolina would be fired for not showing up at work with no notice."