WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain, Sarah Palin's would-be boss in an alternate reality, said Sunday he expects her to remain on the national stage despite giving up her job as Alaska's governor.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate who tapped Palin to be his running mate, said he is confident Palin will remain "a major factor" in the country's political dialogue.

"I understand that Sarah made the decision where she can be the most effective for Alaska and for the country," McCain told NBC's "Meet the Press" 

"The fact is she is very popular with our Republican base. She will be a very strong voice," McCain added.

Palin, whose children even were targets for critics and comedians since she burst on the scene, called a press conference on July 3 to announce she had decided not to seek re-election. She also surprised political observers when she added that she didn't want to be a lame duck governor so was quitting her post 18 months early. 

Palin said that she was going to go out and try to help anybody, including conservative Democrats, who she thought had a positive contribution to make and wanted her help.

But her first stop appears to be the 50th anniversary gala of Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley, Calif., which announced Sunday that Palin is will be at the event being held at the Reagan Presidential Library on Aug. 8.

McCain said he wasn't shocked by Palin's announcement last week but was "a bit surprised" since she did not tell him about it. He said they've since talked.

"I have never seen sustained, personal, family attacks that were made on Sarah Palin and her family in my life. ... I'm sure that had some impact," McCain said, adding, "I don't think she quit. I think she changed her priorities."

The Arizona senator said he is "confident" Palin would make a fine president but he didn't offer an endorsement, saying it's too soon to pick a candidate for 2012.

He also had a word for critics who want to cast her off as not nimble enough to be a presidential candidate. 

"In all due respect to those who like to examine the entrails and look backward, the fact is we were three points ahead on Sept. 15 and the stock market crashed and we went seven points down. Sarah Palin ignited our party. We were winning and we could have won," he said. 

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