Palin says she is not leaving politics

The former Republican vice presidential nominee said she plans to write a book, campaign for political candidates from coast to coast - even Democrats who share her views on limited government, national defense, and energy independence - and build a right-of-center coalition.

“I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation,’’ she said during an interview published yesterday in The Washington Times.

Palin shocked critics and allies alike when she announced on July 3 that she would leave the governor’s office while in the middle of her first term. The governor chose not to seek reelection and suggested it was unfair to hold onto the office as a lame duck. Instead, she will step down July 26 and pursue a national profile. She has not said whether she is building toward a presidential campaign for 2012.

Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley announced Palin is scheduled to speak to the group’s private gala on Aug. 8 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The event - reporters will not be allowed to attend - will take place in a hangar that houses a retired Air Force One presidential aircraft.

Palin defended the decision to resign because “pragmatically, Alaska would be better off’’ if her state weren’t spending time on ethical complaints against her. She also said the resignation had been in the works for months.

Her 2008 running mate disputed suggestions the plainspoken soon-to-be-former-official was a quitter. “Oh, I don’t think she quit,’’ said Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 who made Palin a household name. “I think she changed her priorities.’’

Palin plans to write a memoir but declined to discuss any potential deal for her to become a television commentator. “I can’t talk about any of those things while I’m still governor,’’ she said.