Palin to launch bus tour this weekend as 2012 speculation grows

WASHINGTON – It remains unclear whether she'll run, but a series of recent moves by Sarah Palin has fueled speculation over whether the former Republican vice presidential nominee will jump into the 2012 presidential race.

The move that is generating the most buzz is Palin's plan to launch a bus tour across the East Coast this weekend, beginning here in the nation's capital and with a stop planned in the key primary state of New Hampshire.

"Starting this weekend, Sarah Palin will embark on a One Nation tour of historical sites that were key to the formation, survival, and growth of the United States of America," SarahPAC spokesman Tim Crawford said in a statement. "The tour will originate in Washington DC and will proceed north up the east coast. More information will follow."

In addition, a two hour Palin-endorsed film about her tenure as Alaska governor premiers next month in Iowa, the site of primary season launch, as RealClearPolitics first reported.

The news comes amidst a Thursday Gallup poll of Republican voters that has the tea party firebrand in 2nd place, just two points behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. The two of them lead the rest of the field by five of more percent.

In her recent appearances on Fox News, where she is a paid contributor, Palin has been notably ambiguous about her 2012 intentions, declining to say she'll run but also clearly indicating that the prospect remains on her mind.

If she runs, she could be a formidable contender in the primaries. But even if she eventually opts not to run, the publicity that comes with her bus tour and film as election season heats up could boost her book sales and speaking fees.