Sarah Palin: le flirt continue

"Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will continue to stoke speculation that she may run for president by attending the Iowa State Fair later this week.

Palin is likely to attend the fair on Friday, though a specific date has not been set. Her appearance will come as all the other Republican presidential candidates debate on Thursday night and then some take part in the Ames Straw Poll on Saturday.

In an email to supporters, Palin said she was "excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc."

"I'll enjoy them in honor of those who'd rather make us just 'eat our peas'!" she said, in a dig at President Obama.

By attending the state event, Palin will insert herself into the news cycle in the context of the 2012 primary just as Texas Gov. Rick Perry also gets closer to announcing his own run for the Republican nomination. Perry himself will not be at the debate or in Ames, but will travel to Iowa on Sunday after trips to South Carolina and New Hampshire -- the third and second primary voting states, respectively -- on Saturday.

Palin's email also included a link to her political action committee's website, which showed a 60-second video exhorting the values of middle America: