My guess is that most Alaskans see this as a petulant move in response to all the fights she is in from both sides of the aisle. Like Bush, she acts from her 'gut'.

So far, everyone that I've heard talk about it is totally shocked, even though she said in her speech that it's been in the works for "some time".

Frank Murkowski, the former - and VERY unpopular - Alaska governor that she defeated almost three years ago must be chuckling.