SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced her resignation on Friday and it's getting some mixed reaction in Utah.
"I think right now, it's a bad thing. It seems like the heat has gotten too much for her," says Kirk Jowers, the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. "It's hard to tell what caused Palin to take such an abrupt action and why do it on a Friday before the Fourth of July, it makes it look like there may be something, or a second step will follow."
Governor Palin and Senator John McCain won an overwhelming majority of the votes in Utah during last year's presidential election. Now, some are questioning the self-proclaimed soccer mom, including Linda Duffy. "I'd like to know why she resigned, cause i really like her. I just like what she stood for. I just thought she was an honest, like an all-American person."
Alisha Gillis from Provo says, "It kinda makes me think maybe it's a really good thing we didn't elect her because she doesn't seem very attached to responsibility."
Governor Palin says she wants to focus more on her family. "Public service takes a toll on people and if the governor chooses to spend more time with her family, we fully respect that choice," says Wayne Holland, the chairman of the Utah Democratic Party.
Kirk Jowers says it may not help her if she's planning a run for the White House. "If there's any consideration in 2012, I think that would be close to a disqualifier. We'll wait and see. Maybe it's more interesting than we know."
Governor Palin steps-down on July 26th.
