Rove, Huckabee weigh in on Palin

WASHINGTON, July 6 (UPI) -- Two top Republican Party figures questioned the wisdom of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to leave officer before her term is up.

Since Palin announced Friday she would resign this month, Washington pundits and political professionals have wondered aloud about her plans, with much of the speculation focused on whether she intends to run for president.

Speaking Sunday on "Fox News Sunday," Karl Rover, a top adviser to former President George W. Bush, said he was "a little perplexed ... since she's not going to be able to escape media attention."

"She can't be a conventional candidate, she never has been," Rove said.

Appearing on the same program, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, suggested Palin's announcement left too many questions unanswered.

"You don't call a press conference to create questions, you call one to resolve them," he said.

"If she did get out because of a feeling of getting chased, that's not going to stop if she stays in politics," he said, adding that he likes Palin.

"The challenge that she's going to have is people who say, 'look, if they chase you out of this it won't get any easier for you.'"

Both Rove and Huckabee said if Palin seeks the GOP nomination in 2012 she would have to show she can make changes without being in elected office.

Palin was the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008.