HALPERIN'S TAKE: 10 Possible Reasons for Palin's Decision

1. Her political standing has slipped enough that she could have lost a re-election bid if she tried to retain her current office.

2. Her political standing has slipped enough that even if she had run and won, she would have likely been bloodied in the race, maybe even in a primary.

3. Even more ethics complaints (many frivolous) would have been filed against her.

4. She's got a book to write.

5. She's got a special needs baby to raise.

6. It is logistically impossible to run for president as the sitting governor of Alaska -- because of flight times. (Not hard: *impossible*)

7. She couldn't truly explore her money-making potential as an incumbent governor.

8. She couldn't truly explore her media potential as an incumbent governor.

9. The legislature has turned so much against her that the job wasn't much fun any more.

10. If she wants to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 2012, she needs to spend more time raising money, establishing her international and national expertise, and traveling the Lower 48. And she needs to start now.