Incorrect. She got in the race to thwart Pawlenty. Remember, it was her victory at the Iowa straw poll that sent moderate-Tim packing. Palin had zero interest getting involved; that was confirmed when she stepped down from being governor.
That's the sad reality of 2008 - if McCain had not picked her as his V.P. candidate, Palin could have quietly grown for another 4 years. She could have come into the GOP primary with 6 years as governor with superior credentials on energy and reform issues, and would have been able to bludgeon Obama about ObamaCare. Would have had President Palin. Sigh . . .
I think you completely misread Palin, and in this instance, Bachmann as well.
Palin has, yes, been pulled toward making money too and I would have liked to see her tough out her term in Alaska as well, but she clearly was contemplating a run at least into September of 2011. One thing she learned from her time on the trail with McCain was that a family couldn’t make an effective run for national office if they were financially strapped.
My guess is that political realities—including messages from the GOPe and her being way behind in any fund-raising count—actually took a back seat to daughters getting spooked by the harassment of her family at that time.