GOP chairman calls Palin one of party's leaders
By Associated Press
Apr 16, 2009 6:29 PM CDT
Republican National Chairman Michael Steele responds to a question during a news conference before the Vanderburgh County Right to Life fundraising dinner in Evansville, Ind., Thursday, April 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)   (Associated Press)

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is one of the GOP's current standard bearers. Steele and Palin were in Evansville, Ind., to attend the Vanderburgh County Right to Life fundraising dinner Thursday night. Organizers say the dinner has drawn an overflow crowd of 3,000 people.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, has not ruled out a presidential run in 2012. Steele says it's too early to talk about 2012.

His list of the party's current leaders, however, also includes former governors Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Rudolph Giuliani of New York, governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Mark Sanford of South Carolina, and congressmen Mike Pence of Indiana and Eric Cantor of Virginia.

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