A motorcycle-riding Sarah Palin fueled speculation of a White House run by launching a tour that will take the Republican rock star to the key early presidential voting state of New Hampshire.
Palin participated in the annual "Rolling Thunder" Memorial Day holiday weekend rally in which tens of thousands of motorcyclists, many driving iconic Harley-Davidsons, ride through the nation's capital to honor US war veterans.
Wearing a dark helmet and sunglasses, Palin drew a crowd of photographers and well-wishers as she rode on the back of a motorcycle, amid a crush of motorbikes filling the streets of the US capital city.
The former Alaska governor responded "I don't know" when asked what type of motorcycle she was riding in the rally. Someone from her entourage said however that bike was "American made," according to an AFP correspondent.
ROLLING THUNDER
Asked if her upcoming events would be as loud as the eardrum splitting Rolling Thunder rally, Palin responded: "It would be a blast if they were this loud -- if they smelled this good. I love that smell of the emissions!"
Vietnam War veterans began Rolling Thunder in 1987 to bring awareness to prisoners of war and those missing in action. It has since evolved, its website said, into an event to show "respect for soldiers and veterans from all wars."
Some veterans said Palin was welcome -- provided she's not attending the rally for political reasons.
"That's fine if she wants to come here and join in the festivities as a citizen of this country, not running for office or any political gain," Sheldon Wagner, a 65-year-old Vietnam veteran, told AFP.
BIKERS GATHER
Middle-aged bikers, many carrying POW and US flags, gathered in the parking lot of the Pentagon and their route brings them to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
"These politicians need to find out what the American families and the veterans are all about. It's a good thing for her to do," said 62-year-old Ray King, a retired law enforcement officer from New Jersey who has joined the rally for the past 23 years.
Palin, who was Republican presidential nominee John McCain's surprise running mate in the 2008 presidential election, joined the rally as she launched her "One Nation" bus tour, which is being funded through contributions to her political action committee (PAC).
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION
Palin has not announced whether she will seek the Republican nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in next year's election, but her website includes campaign hallmarks such as links to make donations, videos, and patriotic slogans and images.
A recent statement on her PAC website wrote that her "One Nation" tour "is part of our new campaign to educate and energize Americans about our nation's founding principles, in order to promote the Fundamental Restoration of America."
Palin "will begin a trip through our nation's rich historical sites, starting from Washington, DC, and going up through New England," home to New Hampshire and the nation's first primary election.
Meanwhile, she said in a recent television interview that "I have fire in my belly" to make a presidential run.
DOCUMENTARY PLANS
Palin also plans to debut a film documentary about her political career next month in Iowa, another key early presidential contest state.
McCain told Fox News Sunday that his former running mate can win the nomination and unseat Obama.
"Of course she can," he said.
"Whether she'll even run or not, I don't know. A lot of things happen in campaigns. I was written off a few times and we were able to come back so it's going to be a roller coaster ride for all of them before we arrive at our nominee."
HOUSE IN ARIZONA
Palin also stirred interest following reports that she and husband Todd bought a house in Arizona, for about $1.7 million, which would be a better campaign base than Alaska.
Recent polls suggest no great enthusiasm for any of the announced or potential candidates for the Republican nomination, with even leading figures like Mitt Romney garnering less than 20 percent support.
Other Republican candidates like Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty, libertarian congressman Ron Paul and former House speaker Newt Gingrich have so far inspired even less excitement.
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