Sarah Palin rallies Republican support in run-up to possible presidential bid

FORMER US vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivered a fiery speech on Friday that many believe fired the starting gun on her own presidential bid for 2012.

The erstwhile Alaska governor spoke to about 1,400 people at the Iowa Republican Party's Reagan dinner, its largest annual fundraiser. She noted that the party's general elections were less than two months away and stressed that 2 November should be the focus for all its members.

"This is our movement, this is our moment," she said. "The time for unity is near. It is time to unite and make government work."

Her appearance in the state where precinct caucuses traditionally launch the presidential nominating season drew intense attention, but she found time to joke about it.

If she laced up her running shoes, she said, the headlines would read: "Palin in Iowa, decides to run." Palin has been coy about her presidential intentions and masterful at keeping her name in the news since she quit as Alaska's governor in 2009.

She has mixed political fundraisers and candidates' campaign events with speeches in which she commands fees as high as $100,000 (64,000).

A string of Palin-endorsed candidates won during recent primary elections, including a double win on Tuesday in Delaware and New Hampshire. On Friday, she stressed Republicans needed to come together after a tough primary season.

"Did you ever lose big growing up?" she asked the crowd. "You lose some and you win some. For the sake of our country, America's primary voters have spoken and those internal power struggles need to be set aside."

She also attacked a media establishment that would not give conservatives a break.

"It's been made abundantly clear that those who hold some pretty common-sense views won't be heard," she said.

State Republican chairman Matt Strawn said attendance at the annual dinner spiked after it was announced that Palin would be speaking.

Palin is not alone in taking steps to court Iowa activists.

Former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich has made multiple trips to the state, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has put a staff member in Iowa and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania all have visits planned.

President Barack Obama's spokesman said on Friday that he believes Palin - whom the Democrats defeated in 2008 - was testing the waters for a possible presidential run.

Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs said it is clear Palin can rally the very conservative elements of the Republican base and added that she may be "the most formidable force" in the party right now.Palin has helped stir up Republican politics by backing in primary elections anti-establishment candidates, many of whom won on a platform of cutting spending and taxes - causes backed by Tea Party activists.

A prime example was her backing of the Tea Party right-winger Christine O'Donnell, who defeated Mike Castle in a Republican primary election in Delaware last week.