July 5, 2009 Palin attempts to quell speculation on Twitter, Facebook Play video

(NECN/ABC) - Alaska residents and political observers were still struggling on Sunday to come to grips with a stunning political development -- the resignation of Alaska's Governor.

Sarah Palin's decision to leave the Governor's office by the end of the month, well before her term ends next year, is increasing speculation about a run for the Presidency in 2012.

Gov. Palin responded to criticism of her abrupt resignation on Twitter.

Via @AKGovSarahPalin:

"Critics are spinning, so hang in there as they feed false info on the right decision made as I enter last yr in office to not run again...."

There is a range of speculation on her surprise departure as Alaska's top politician. Is she running for higher office? Avoiding a scandal? Or just fed up with public life?

"I don't think there is any scandal brewing. I don't think there's anything more other than Sarah Palin deciding this isn't fun, I'm not enjoying it, I'm tired of the grief, I'm tired of being picked at, so I'm doing something else," former aide Larry Persily said.

Sarah Palin wrote this on social networking site Facebook.com:

"It's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies

But it may just not be a different standard that is not sitting well with some Alaskans.

"It just kind of dawned on me that really it's been one drama after another with her, and she kind of seems to thrive on that kind of drama," Alaskan resident Sarah Lewis said.

Palin will have to erase those doubts if she wants to run for President.

"Now she's going to have hundreds and hundreds of days between now and the 2012 election and she is going to raise expectations about how well and how visible she is early on in that struggle," Karl Rove said.

Her successor thinks she can do it.

"She has plenty of time now within which to define how she will further her core values," Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said.

ABC's Clayton Sandell reports.