Sarah Palin on a 2012 run: 'If it's right, then we will pursue that'

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Sarah Palin said in an interview with Canadian network CTS TV that she will "pursue" a presidential bid in 2012 if she decides it's the best way to help everyday people with their challenges. On CNN's Political Ticker blog, CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby reports:

The former vice presidential candidate has generally avoided talking specifically about her 2012 plans, but her comments in Canada are her most forthcoming since she told Fox News in February that it would be "absurd" not to consider a presidential bid.

Palin said she and her family have had an "exciting and full ride" since the 2008 presidential campaign ended. Her travels around the country over the last year and a half, she explained, have given her a glimpse of some of the struggles that regular Americans face every day.

"If I can help provide some encouragement, some inspiration, some hope for them to get through their battles and make good decisions and get through a challenge, because that's what we've been able to do, then I am going to stay focused on that," she said in the interview, set to air next week. "Whether that's on a local level in my own little town of Wasilla, or in the Oval Office, if it's right, then we will pursue that."

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Palin said her next move depends, in part, on what God has in store for her.

CTS has posted a video of its "Always Good News" program which includes the full interview here. YouTube excerpts from the interview can be found here and here.

The interview was recorded Thursday, before her appearance in Hamilton, Ontario.

- JP

Canadian TV network to air Sarah Palin Interview tonight

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An interview with Sarah Palin which was recorded when she was in Ontario last week will be aired tonight in Canada. A special edition of the program Always Good News on CTS TV (Crossroads Television System) Wednesday, April 21st at 5:30 pm EST and again at 12:00 noon EST on April 22nd:

The entire interview will also be featured within Canada's longest running daily TV program, 100 Huntley Street, airing the following Tuesday on April 27th at 9 am on CTS TV and Global.

As the only Canadian Television interview on this visit north, Connie Smith who hosts Always Good News (AGN) will be tracking Palin's meteoric rise from small town Alaska hockey Mom, to international celebrity, and most recently the darling of the Tea Party Movement that has shaken the U.S. political system with it's strong opposition to growing government and higher taxation.

"The interview was great", says Ms. Smith, "It was one of only two granted by Governor Palin. The other was a print news outlet. I caught up with her on camera after she spoke to a crowd of 900 people at Carmen's Banquet Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, recently where she was instrumental in raising $50,000 for The Charity of Hope for needy children." Connie Smith has been one of the most recognizable and engaging personalities on the air in Southern Ontario for more than 30 years. Since September 2009, Ms. Smith has been the Producer and host of Always Good News seen daily on CTS.

We're not familiar with CTS TV, but it appears to be a Canadian network roughly analogous to Christian network CBN. We're not sure if CTS is part of any of the packages that satellite services such as Direct TV and Dish Network provide access to in the lower 48, but we don't think they do. We'll just have to wait for CTS TV to post the video on its Web pages. The AGN page is here.

- JP