Palin says she'll back candidates

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 13 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will jump from state executive to national politics as soon as she leaves office this month, she said Sunday.

Palin told The Washington Times she will campaign for Republicans, independents and even conservative Democrats. She said her criteria for supporting a candidate will be whether an office-seeker shares her views on limited government, strong defense and energy independence.

"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation," she said.

The former Republican vice-presidential nominee is a heroine to much of the GOP base, but 55 percent of independents say they would prefer she exit the national stage, and she is unpopular among Democrats, the newspaper said.

Palin -- who announced July 3 she will leave officer with about 18 months left in her term -- said she won't challenge incumbent Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski for the GOP nomination for the Senate next year. She didn't rule out a future presidential bid.