Activist Starts Sarah Palin Hunger Fast

Anti-Tea Party activist Jerry Rubin is in Sarah Palin's corner. Well, not exactly. The longtime Santa Monica resident does want the Republican politician to run for president—but not for the reason you might expect.

Rubin, 67, believes a Palin run would severely damage the Republican Party's chances of reclaiming the White House next year. To draw attention to his cause, he launched his latest hunger fast on Monday.

"A Sarah Palin presidential candidacy would hurt Republicans even more than the other Republican candidates and leadership are already hurting themselves," Rubin said. "My personal fast is unique way of imploring Sarah Palin to run."

Rubin, who is a perennial candidate for the , has dubbed his latest, liquid-only fast Run Sarah Run. He said he will not eat solid food until Palin formally announces whether or not she'll run for president.

The peace and environmental activist has engaged in politically related fasts more than 30 times in the past. Previously, Rubin fasted in an effort to urge Ralph Nader to drop out of the 2004 presidential race. Last year, he ended an anti-Tea Party fast after 175 days.

"It's quite likely most comedians in America would be delighted if Sarah Palin were to enter the presidential race," Rubin added.

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Correction: Rubin is a longtime Santa Monica resident but not a native.