Sounds to me as if she is trying to do what is best for her state. If she is constantly having to defend against other things, rather than being the leader of her state, it takes away from that leadership. Looks like she is handing the reins over to someone who does not have to be in defense mode all the time. Good luck, Governor Palin.
I believe you are right! As well, she is thinking about what is best for this country. One thing people, knee-jerk reactionaries, don't understand or know about Sarah Palin is that she is trying to "do the right thing", a foreign concept to many involved in politics.