Sarah Palin is launching a multi-city bus tour on Sunday, during which she plans to visit key historical sites on the East Coast, such as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and the Civil War battlefields in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Dubbed the One Nation Tour, its first stop will be the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally held by Vietnam vets every Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C. Then she’ll head up to politically important New Hampshire for the first time since she was the GOP’s 2008 vice presidential nominee.

“Our nation is at a critical turning point. As we look to the future, we are propelled by America’s past. It’s imperative that we connect with our founders, our patriots, our challenges and victories to clearly see our way forward,” Palin wrote on her revamped SarahPac Web site that makes it easier for donors to contribute. “A good way to do this is to appreciate the significance of our nation’s historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures, which we’ll do in the coming weeks on our One Nation tour.”

The tour is one of a few signs that suggest the former Alaska governor may be seriously mulling a bid to become her party’s 2012 presidential nominee. Palin recently bought a $1.7 million home in Arizona, where it will be much more convenient to operate a national campaign. She also will soon release a documentary called The Undefeated, which highlights her tenure as governor. Palin also has taken steps to reshuffle her staff.

But is she serious, or is she simply taking advantage of the lack of enthusiasm elicited by the Republican lineup thus far? Palin may simply be trying to prevent a possible takeover of her Tea Party icon status by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota), who is openly considering a presidential bid and who some say has more credibility than Palin. Maybe she just needs a little more attention. Sound familiar?

(Photo: AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)