Activist Ends Sarah Palin Hunger Fast

Following Sarah Palin's announcement Wednesday that she will not be running for president, Santa Monica activist Jerry Rubin has ended the hunger fast he began Aug. 29.

Rubin, 67, believed 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 the fast, one of many he has undertaken over the years.

"Sarah Palin would have hurt the Republican Party more than the Republican presidential candidates and leadership are already hurting themselves," he said in a statement. "That is basically why I really wanted Sarah to run. Palin most likely would have quit midstream anyhow. After all, she did quit her term as governor midstream."

"I would have liked to see Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann claw it out in the debates," the exhausted and disappointed Rubin told Santa Monica Patch on Wednesday night. "But there really are enough weird character candidates already."

Rubin, who is a perennial candidate for the , dubbed his latest, liquid-only fast Run Sarah Run. He promised not to eat any solid food until the former Alaska governor and candidate for vice president made her announcement about 2012.

Rubin ended his fast by eating a tea cake. He said he plans to enjoy some Baked Alaska dessert Thursday.

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.

"They never get easier even after nearly 35 fasts since 1980," Rubin told Santa Monica Patch. "I'm not planning another fast, but I wouldn't rule it out. (Oops, I'm starting to sound like Sarah Palin.)"

Rubin plans to "work to help" President Obama's re-election campaign and to support the Occupy Wall Street movement.

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