EXCLUSIVE: Palin to stump for conservative Democrats

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By Ralph Z. Hallow

The governor defended her decision to step down early, despite criticism by Democrats and Republicans that she risked being labeled a quitter.

She said constant attacks in the press and the barrage of ethics violation claims against her — all dismissed or pending — have cost state taxpayers dearly and made it nearly impossible for her to move forward with her agenda. The legal cases also forced her to go into debt for more than $500,000 in legal expenses.

"Pragmatically, Alaska would be better off" by allowing her lieutenant governor and fellow Republican, Sean Parnell, 46, to serve out her term, she said.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Palin said the state needs a new ethics policy after another ethics complaint was filed against her. The new complaint, filed Friday with the state personnel board, claims Mrs. Palin has been paid for media interviews, according to the Associated Press.

Mrs. Palin said she hopes the new complaint is "a wake-up call" to Alaskan lawmakers and the public that at new policy is needed.

"The only saving grace in this recent episode is that it proves beyond any doubt the significance of the problem Alaska faces in the 'new normal' of political discourse," she said in a release that was posted online through her Twitter account. "I hope this will be a wake-up call — to legislators, to commentators and to citizens generally — that we need a much more civil and respectful dialogue that focuses on the best interests of the state, rather than the petty resentments of a few."

In her interview with The Times, Mrs. Palin denied reports that the decision to resign had been made hastily with little notice to her family or staff.

"We had been contemplating this for months, so I didn't surprise my family or the people around me," she said, glancing at her top aide, Kris Perry, who was seated across the room from the governor during the interview. Ms. Perry smiled and nodded emphatically.

Among the barrage of ethics complaints against Mrs. Palin are many filed by Republican activist Andree McLeod.

"She put personal and partisan political interests before the state of Alaska," Mrs. McLeod told The Washington Times.

Mrs. McLeod said she became friends with Mrs. Palin in 2002 and later grew disillusioned when, in Mrs. McLeod's view, Mrs. Palin did not live up to her ethics-in-office promises.

Mrs. McLeod said Mrs. Palin, before and during her campaign for vice president, used her gubernatorial communications staff to promote herself at state government expense rather than to promote Alaska. Regardless of whether elected officials in both parties do it, she said, "A rule is a rule, and politicians and their staff who violate a rule get punished. Why should Sarah Palin be any different?"

Another friend turned critic, Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich, said Mrs. Palin worked assiduously with Democrats in the Legislature.

"Her Alaskan Democrat allies stood for rapid government growth, increased government spending and taxing energy to the maximum and definitely did not stand for limited government, spending restraint, strong national defense and energy independence," said Mr. Ruedrich, who described himself as an early mentor to Mrs. Palin.

The mention of Mr. Ruedrich's name seemed to chill the atmosphere of the interview with the governor.

Even dealing with the political maelstrom she unleashed, Mrs. Palin flashed the down-home, personal touch that even critics say helped her forge an extraordinary bond with supporters on the campaign trail.

When a photographer prepared to take pictures of the interview, Mrs. Palin, wearing open-toed shoes, said laughingly, "Don't get my toes in the picture — they are green on the bottom."

Indeed they were. She said the marks were grass stains from mowing her lawn the previous day.