Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One-time Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin may have sent a clear message to the political world , analysts say , by signing a deal to become a TV commentator . That message : She 's unlikely to run in the 2012 presidential race . `` I do think maybe it suggests , sadly for Democrats , that she might not be running , '' said Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Paul Begala . `` Democrats ... are pretty confident they can defeat Sarah Palin . She 's not going to beat Barack Obama . '' The former Alaska governor has signed a deal with Fox News to appear as a contributor on the network , a source with knowledge of the agreement confirms to CNN . There are no plans for Palin to anchor her own program , the source said . `` Let 's first hope for -LSB- Fox News President -RSB- Roger Ailes ' sake that she does n't quit that job the way she quit her job as governor of Alaska , '' Begala joked . Nancy Pfotenhauer , a former McCain presidential campaign spokesperson , also indicated that Palin 's new job is a possible sign of things to come . `` There 's a slight indication she may not run , '' she said . `` I assume this is a business decision on the part of both Fox News and on Gov. Palin 's part . '' Begala , though , did give Palin praise for her TV gig . `` It 's indoor work . It 's interesting and lucrative . I 'm all for it , '' he said . `` Congratulations for the former governor of Alaska . '' Palin is hardly alone in top Republicans-turned-TV talking heads . After the 2008 GOP presidential primaries , former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee joined Fox News as the host of his own show . Karl Rove , a former top aide to President George W. Bush , also joined Fox News as a commentator . Michael Steele , the current chairman of the Republican National Committee , was once a Fox News contributor as well . Mary Matalin , a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney , is now a CNN contributor alongside her husband James Carville and Begala -- top Democratic aides to then President Clinton . One of Begala and Carville 's colleagues -- George Stephanopolous -- has been a long-time political analyst at ABC News , who later hosted his own Sunday TV show `` This Week . '' Most recently , he was named as the host of ABC 's `` Good Morning America . '' On MSNBC , former Florida GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough now hosts his own TV show called `` Morning Joe . '' Pat Buchanan , a leading conservative voice and former presidential candidate , also graces MSNBC 's airwaves giving his take on politics . Since leaving office , Palin has become a vocal critic of the Obama administration 's policies . She recently released her autobiography `` Going Rogue '' and toured the country promoting her book .