McCain 'surprised,' but not shocked Palin quit

Posted 4m ago

WASHINGTON (AP) β€” Last year's Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, says he doesn't think of Sarah Palin as quitting her job as much as changing her priorities.

McCain says that he is confident that Palin, his running mate during last year's campaign, will remain "a major factor" on the national scene even after she steps down as Alaska's governor.

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Palin has said that she decided not to seek re-election before deciding to step down with about 18 months remaining in her first term as governor. She expressed concern over being a lame-duck governor as well as criticism aimed at her and her family.

McCain tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that he wasn't shocked by Palin's announcement last week but was "a bit surprised" since she did not tell him about it.

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