Perhaps the biggest question left about the Republican presidential candidate field is whether or not 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will join the already crowded race. It appears now that question will not be answered until the end of next month, after Palin's political action committee rejected GOP's strategist Karl Rove suggestion that she would announce her intentions by Labor Day.

“Any professional pundit claiming to have inside information regarding Governor Palin’s personal decision is not only wrong,” the message from SarahPAC said, “but their comments are specifically intended to mislead the American public.”

It appears now that Palin will likely announce her intentions by the end of September. According to The New York Times:

The best window into her thinking, perhaps, can be found in her own words on Aug. 12 when she talked expansively to reporters at the Iowa State Fair.

When asked whether the end of September was still the best timetable for her decision, she said: “Yes, definitely.”

Texas Gov. Rick Perry only recently announced his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination and already he seems to be doing quite well in the field, as a new poll shows him leading in Iowa. According to the latest Public Policy Polling poll, Perry is the favorite among announced GOP candidates at 22 percent. Mitt Romney is second in the poll with 19 percent, followed by Iowa straw poll winner Michele Bachmann at 18 percent. Ron Paul finished fourth at 16 percent.

A key finding in the poll: "Perry's support is being built on Tea Party support and voters with very conservative positions on certain issues." 

Despite the shape and size of the Republican presidential field, there are those within the party that appear to be very unsatisfied with the current crop of GOP presidential candidates. According to Politico, which looked through a variety of right-wing periodicals, blogs and opinion pages, conservative elites have longed:

for a presidential candidate of ideas — first Mitch Daniels, then Paul Ryan — has been endless, intense and unrequited.

The problem, in shorthand: To many conservative elites, Rick Perry is a dope, Michele Bachmann is a joke and Mitt Romney is a fraud.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki is fueling speculation that he will run for the GOP presidential nomination with an appearance in Iowa this weekend. Pataki is scheduled to speak at a Republican fundraiser in Des Moines on Saturday. But will Pataki, who is considering a presidential run, use the event to announce his intentions? 

Said one organizer: “Strong chance he will announce, I believe."

Two Republican presidential candidates--Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter--will also be featured speakers at the event.

President Obama's approval rating has reached a new low according to the Gallup daily tracking poll. The president's approval rating is 38 percent, while his disapproval rating is at 54 percent.