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GOP Rep.: Palin 'dividing' Republicans

Former vice-presidential candidate and governor of Alaska Sarah Palin speaks at the National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 14, 2010. UPI/Nell Redmond .
Former vice-presidential candidate and governor of Alaska Sarah Palin speaks at the National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 14, 2010. UPI/Nell Redmond . | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A Republican member of the U.S. House said Wednesday former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is "dividing the Republican Party" by endorsing primary candidates.

Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., told a radio talk show host Palin's endorsement of a candidate in Georgia's GOP gubernatorial runoff Tuesday was divisive.

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Palin endorsed Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who lost to former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal. Kingston endorsed Deal, as did former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, The Washington Post reported.

"Why Sarah Palin decided to get in the race is beyond me," Kingston said during an appearance on the syndicated "America's Morning News."

He told an interviewer Palin's involvement "makes Republicans say, well, maybe we do need to rethink ... Sarah Palin, as somebody who does shoot from the hip a little bit too much."

The interviewer asked Kingston if he'd prefer Palin to stay uninvolved in contested primaries.

"Well, yes, I wish she will because what she is doing is dividing the Republican Party at a time when we don't need to be divided," he said.

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