AUSTIN -- For the first time since the 2008 Presidential Election, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin sat down and discussed her future at length.
She told talk-show host Oprah Winfrey that a 2012 presidential bid isn't in her plans right now but says instead she'll focus her energy on battleground campaigns of the 2010 cycle, like the Republican Gubernatorial primary in Texas.
"I decided I'm going to get out there and fight for Alaska's issues, and I'm going to fight for what I believe in on a different platform," Palin said.
Gov. Rick Perry, (R) Texas, has said Palin will be in Texas to campaign on his behalf after January 1. A spokesman for Perry's re-election campaign said that no firm date has been set, but Palin's appearance will come before the March party primary.
On her own behalf, Palin said a 2012 presidential election campaign is "not on my radar screen right now."
Palin appeared on Winfrey's talk show to promote her book which has already become a best-seller online. Austin-area bookstores have pre-sold copies. Managers of the Barnes & Noble store in the Arboretum in Northwest Austin denied KVUE's requests to shoot video of the book's cover, saying publishers demanded the book be kept under lock-and-key.
In the hour-long interview, Palin fired back at Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., presidential campaign staff, saying they criticized her for speaking her mind during the race.
"We really didn't find that script, so we really never could follow that script," she said. "I don't think I'm to blame for losing the race."
Winfrey asked Palin about the up-coming Playgirl photo-shoot starring her daughter's former fiancee, Levi Johnston. Johnston is also the father of Palin's grandchild.
"I don't know if we call him Levi anymore -- I hear he goes by Ricky Hollywood now. If that's the case, we don't wanna mess-up the gig he's got," Palin said.
ABC's Barbara Walters also interviewed Palin. Parts of that interview will air Tuesday on "Good Morning America" and "World News."
Walters' entire sit-down interview with Palin will air Friday on Nightline which airs at 10:35 p.m. on KVUE.
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