I think it’s a mistake to draw any conclusions as to a possible announcement date based on when she’ll be giving a speech on the speaker’s circuit. There’s no rule that says you cannot give a speech on the speaker’s circuit while running for the presidency at the same time. In any event, she’ll reportedly be speaking in the San Joaquin Valley in May:

Former Alaska governor and possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin is coming back to the San Joaquin Valley.

Palin is scheduled to speak May 1 in the new $24 million Golden Eagle Arena at the West Hills College Lemoore campus, spokeswoman Frances Squire said.

Tickets are scheduled to on sale sometime next week and will start at $25.

Palin was just in the Valley last October, when she spoke at the Bakersfield Business Conference. There, she shared the stage with potential competition for the Republican presidential nomination, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

This time, she will be the featured speaker — the second in the college’s speaker’s series. The first was Karl Rove, longtime confidant of former President George W. Bush and his former White House adviser.

College officials have not been actively publicizing the event — yet — but word has still leaked out to some in the community. And so far, Squire said, “we are getting really good response to Palin. She’s a rock star.”

For $5,000, the college is also selling a limited number of tables at a post-speech dinner with Palin.

“This is not a political event,” Squire said of Palin’s appearance. “It is a fundraiser for the college.”

And there’s no doubt Palin is a hot ticket in this region. Though she is a polarizing figure among the general public, polls show, she is very popular among conservatives.

Last year, Big Fresno Fair officials tried to bring her to town during the event’s October run, but the appearance fell through.

Here’s more on her visit to Long Island in mid-February. She won’t actually be giving a speech but will be taking questions from around a thousand business leaders.