Sarah Palin: Allen West 'Should Be Considered Seriously for VP

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dodged a question of whether she would again accept the vice presidential slot on the GOP ticket in November, but did offer her own endorsement of who should be considered for the No. 2 spot: Florida Rep. Allen West.

"You know who I'd like to see considered for the VP slot is Colonel Allen West," Palin said Saturday during an interview on Fox News. "In this very tumultuous time across our world, someone who has served in our military or at least has intimate knowledge of the way the military works and should work, perhaps by having a close family member serve, someone like that."

She added, "Colonel Allen West, who's been to the school of hard knocks, he should be the one who should be considered seriously for VP."

Palin refused to say directly whether she would consider a second vice presidential bid.

"It's not a no," she said. "What I'm saying is, if I were in a GOP presidential candidate's shoes, I would first look to Colonel Allen West."

Despite her non-committal answer, Palin was quick to brush off the idea that she could be drafted into the presidential contest as the result of a brokered convention.

"I'm not going to be asked," she said flatly. Still, she said the GOP shouldn't have "anything to fear" from such a situation, saying it would merely be the continuation of a healthy competition.

Palin, who has not made any endorsement in the presidential race but has expressed concerns about Mitt Romney, said she would nevertheless not hesitate to campaign hard for Romney if he wins the nomination.

"Of course, anybody but Obama," Palin said.