If she would have served the rest of her term it would have been as a "lame duck" because she had already decided not to run for re-election as Governor. She thoroughly explained that she had accomplished her agenda for Alaska and to continue as a lame duck would only hurt the state and cost it money. She could do what most lame duck politicians do: travel and "have fun" on the taxpayers' dime. Her stepping down is the act of a principled person, not a politician.
I would have to understand her actions completely before having enough confidence to help elect her to the highest office in the land.
I suggest you read the transcript of her speech until you do understand. She didn't say she was leaving to run for any higher office. It's a significant number of We, The People who'd like to see her do SOMETHING with her governing talents. She couldn't continue to do that as Governor of Alaska while being harassed unto death and sued into smithereens. It's like trying to run a marathon with people on the sidelines throwing marbles under her feet all along the way.
Maybe she’ll run for state senator of Alaska...