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Did Sarah Palin really endorse Newt Gingrich Tuesday night on Sean Hannity鈥檚 Fox News show? A lot of folks in the "lame-stream media" are leaping to the conclusion that she did, but we鈥檙e not so sure.

Yes, Todd Palin has already said he鈥檚 backing the former speaker of the House. And when Mr. Hannity asked Ms. Palin if she would follow suit, the former Alaska governor said this: 鈥淚f I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going, I鈥檇 vote for Newt.鈥�

But the context is interesting here. First of all, Palin made it clear that what she really wants is for Mitt Romney to continue to have an array of conservative competition. The debates should keep going, she said, because 鈥渋ron sharpens iron and steel sharpens steel.鈥� More to the point, continuing competition would mean that maybe voters would get to examine the potential problems of potential nominees prior to the actual nomination.

鈥淲ith the front-runner and with all the candidates, there are still too many questions,鈥� said Palin, adding that these questions have to do with 鈥渢heir business dealings ... and their experience while serving in office.鈥�

Does that sound like she thinks conservatives should keep looking into Mr. Romney鈥檚 experience at Bain Capital and his actions as Massachusetts governor? That鈥檚 what it sounds like to us, too.

鈥淔ront-runners and whoever it is have to have everything out there,鈥� Palin said.

Palin did not mention Romney by name. But all the other non-Ron Paul candidates remaining in the race got a shout-out from John McCain鈥檚 2008 veep choice. She had something good to say about all their performances in Monday night鈥檚 South Carolina debate.

Rick Perry must have had Texas chili and Dr Pepper from his home state prior to the debate, said Palin.

鈥淪omebody must have been able to import it to him because he was on fire with some of those segments he participated in,鈥� Palin told Hannity.

Rick Santorum? 鈥淪antorum, too, he had an opponent up on the ropes,鈥� she said, without mentioning that that opponent might have been 鈥� you guessed it 鈥� Romney.

Palin was on for 10 minutes or so, and near the end, Hannity asked her directly whether she鈥檇 just endorsed Gingrich. She skittered around the question like, well, a politician.

鈥淵ou know, I want that process to continue,鈥� she repeated.

Our bottom line: Palin is pushing the guy she likes most, but wants to leave open her options to maybe swerve and go with somebody else if that somebody else looks like a better option.

She鈥檚 even leaving the door open a crack to a Romney endorsement. Asked if she鈥檇 back him if he were the nominee, she did not say no. She said, 鈥淚 have said ... from the beginning, anybody but Obama.鈥�