Alaska Gov. will resign from office July 26, doesn't announce plans

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WASILLA, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Republican vice-presidential candidate, made a surprise announcement yesterday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.

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The Associated Press

Sarah Palin

Palin hastily called a news conference yesterday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement. State troopers blocked late-arriving media outside her home, and her spokesman, Dave Murrow, finally emerged to confirm that Palin will step down July 26. He refused to give details about the governor's future plans.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month, Murrow said.

Palin was first elected in 2006 on a populist platform.