ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin had gained fame — and to some, infamy — since she embarked on a vice-presidential bid less than a year ago.
Her surprising departure from Alaska’s top office is gaining her something else: questions over her motives and next big move.
She leaves office today with her political future clouded by ethics probes, mounting legal bills and dwindling popularity. A new Washington Post-ABC poll puts her favorability rating at 40 percent, with 53 percent giving her an unfavorable rating.
The Republican governor also faces an array of queries about why she is quitting more than a year before her term ends and what she plans to do after she steps down.
Palin has said little about any major moves but has hinted that she has a bigger role in mind. She is scheduled to speak Aug. 8 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California and has said she plans to write a book, campaign for political candidates from coast to coast and build a right-of-center coalition.
Above all, Palin plans to continue speaking her mind on the social networking site Twitter.
Such folksy offerings endear Palin to millions of fans, including more than 113,000 who follow her on Twitter. But are they enough to launch a political movement?
Political scientist Jerry McBeath said the answer isn’t clear.
“In the context of 305 million Americans, 100,000 is not a lot of followers,” he said.
Spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton disputed the notion that Palin is running for president or has media deals lined up.
“I cannot express enough there is no plan after July 26. There is absolutely no plan,” she told The Associated Press this month.
Palin’s biggest legacy may be putting Alaska on the national stage, said Larry Persily, a former journalist and Palin staffer who now works for a Republican state legislator.
“Before if you played a word game and someone said Alaska, you might say oil or even whales,” he said. “Now you say Alaska: ‘Palin.’ “
