Sarah Palin tour fuels rumour she will run for office

Sarah Palin will embark on a bus tour along the east coast of the US this weekend, fuelling speculation that a presidential push may be in the offing.

It may look every part the start of a presidential campaign, but America is still none the wiser when it comes to Ms Palin's intentions for the 2012 election.

To date, the smart money has been on Ms Palin not running for the Republican candidacy. Despite her popularity among the party's grassroots, she remains a divisive figure and could alienate independent voters.

She may also be loath to give up her lucrative career as an author and pundit for Fox News.

Ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Minnesota representative Michelle Bachmann are likely to announce bids soon.