Why Did Sarah Palin Resign?

After nearly a week hiatus, it has suddenly become a marathon day for blogging.  By far, the chief bit of political news to hit the wires today is that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is resigning her post at the end of the month.  Republican Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is set to become The Last Frontier's next governor.

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Within minutes of her announced resignation, my Blackberry easily fielded ten messages poking fun at GOP prospects in 2012.  The glee is misplaced.  As a complete outsider to both the Governor and the State of Alaska (consider the source), it strikes me as a fairly savvy move for a Governor interested in a 2012 Presidential bid.  

Why?

Resigning early frees up Gov. Palin to mull, and plan for a 2012 White House run.  It also generates 'buzz' about her potential candidacy, by allowing Republicans to rally behind one of their most familiar faces.  And most importantly, yet specific to AK, it allows AK Republicans to defend their State House by installing a Republican Governor at the helm once Gov. Palin decided not to seek reelection.  This has the net effect of allowing Sean Parnell to prepare for his own run for Governor in 2010, while already getting acclimated to the office.

Given that even a lowly magazine article about the Governor can generate substantial media and political interest as last week's piece in Vanity Fair surely did, I suspect we have not seen the last of Sarah Palin.