I'd take the job of President for minimum wage.
Sorry, Palin didn't choose not run for President because the job is crummy, she didn't run because she did not think she could win. Most polling made that pretty obvious for a very long time now. Sarah will now go on to help a lot of conservatives in their elections and that is a good thing. Her celebrity can bring instant attention and money to Tea Party type candidates that need some attention to get traction. While I long ago concluded she wasn't running, she is still going to do a great service to the conservative cause going forward.
it would have to be something more than polling.
Polls this far out from a presidential race mean just about nothing. Reagan trailed carter by 17 points in spring 1980.
I can believe the family issue, and also the fact that she would run effectively against the GOP, national media, and Democrats, and even if she won, she would not have enough of her supporters even in GOP to do much. Also she may have felt like money would be an issue and there might be continuing lawsuits in AK and legal abuse against her family.
What i dont understand is why she waited this long to say no. But it is what it is.
Obviously from reading FR, her credibility and reputation have taken a hit. I hate to speculate about the future. I do hope though she can effectively argue for American to develop our own resources instead of paying foreigners for theirs.