Sarah Palin and Donald Trump are starting to share more similarities than differences.  They are both reality show stars, for one.  But, now they are both mounting ‘pretend’ presidential campaigns, even though, in all likelihood, neither of them will actually run.

The former Alaska governor told Fox News last week she is “still thinking about” running for president in 2012, and she feels “tempted” to do so because she questions the other potential Republican candidates’ motives.  “I’m still wondering who the heck is going to be out there with a servant’s heart willing to serve the American people for the right reason, not for ego, not for special interests, not with obsessive partisanship,” Palin, a paid Fox contributor, told the network’s Greta Van Susteren in a lengthy interview.

However, evidence is mounting that Palin will not enter the fray in the next election.  She has not begun to build any campaign organization or visit the crucial early primary states.  Palin has not hired additional staff; instead her staff is shrinking.  She recently parted ways with two of her most experienced political operatives, Jason Recher and Doug McMarlin, both veterans of the Bush administration.  Sources suggest that the parting was not sudden and that Palin is simply downsizing.

The polls also indicate that Palin should not mount any political bid.  Her popularity has been decreasing in the past few months.  Even pundits on the conservative end of the spectrum have begun to criticize Palin.  Her reality television series and her daughter’s stint on Dancing with the Stars have made it difficult for some to take her seriously.

Palin, who often complains about the ‘lamestream media,’ told Van Susteren that she didn’t care about the media any longer.  “I’m through whining about a liberal press that holds particularly conservative women to a different standard, because it doesn’t do any good to whine about it,” she said. “Nobody ever promised life was going to be fair. And politics really isn’t fair, the scrutiny, the double standards, and all that.”

In all likelihood, Palin will continue to dangle the “will I or won’t I run” carrot for a little longer.  She seems to really like being in the media spotlight but I think her mind has been made up for a while.

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About the author

Erin Chavez
Erin Whitney-Chavez has been writing professionally since 2009. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University and received a Master of Arts in mental-health counseling from Argosy University. Erin Whitney-Chavez is a licensed mental health counselor and has worked in the mental-health field for more than 10 years.

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