Sarah Palin Bus Tour

Sarah Palin begins a bus tour of East Coast with a motorcycle ride in Washington

Sarah Palin rumbled through Washington on the back of a Harley as she and her family began an East Coast tour Sunday, renewing speculation that the former Alaska governor would join the still unsettled Republican presidential contest.

Wearing a black leather jacket and surrounded by a throng of cheering fans, Palin and family members jumped on bikes and joined thousands of other motorcyclists on the Memorial Day weekend ride from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Palin didn’t mention politics as she visited with participants, but she smiled broadly when many in the crowd urged her to run.

When one man asked her if she was running, she smiled and answered, “Don’t know.”

Palin remains one of the biggest questions for Republicans, who have not yet settled on a frontrunner to challenge President Barack Obama’s re-election. While many of Palin’s likely rivals have worked to build campaign organizations in early nominating states such as Iowa or New Hampshire, Palin has taken no concrete steps to begin a presidential campaign.

Given Palin’s star power, she might be able to wait longer than others. But the clock is ticking, the establishment isn’t happy with its options and one of the earliest tests of campaign infrastructure, the straw poll in Ames, Iowa, is scheduled for August.

Palin showed no hints she would join the field on Sunday although she again demonstrated her ability to build excitement and practice the person-to-person, retail politics that she clearly loves. In heels and black flare slacks, Palin shook hands and posed for pictures with well-wishers.

“How do you wear all this leather and stay cool?” she asked one woman. Palin asked others to show off their tattoos as she took off her own leather jacket and worked her way through a crush of fans, photographers and reporters.

Just before Palin, husband Todd and daughters Bristol and Piper rolled from the Pentagon’s parking lot, she gave a thumbs-up to a military police officer who asked if he could snap a picture while taking a break from directing traffic.

On the windshield of Palin’s bike: a likeness of President George W. Bush. Next to it, the words “Miss Me?” And on her hand, the words “justice rolls” were written in smeared ink.

It was an apparent reference to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which is quoted on Palin’s website: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Palin didn’t take questions from reporters and, in keeping her social media strategy, offered her thoughts on her political website.

“There’s no better way to see D.C. than on the back of a Harley!” Palin wrote. “My family may be used to snowmachines more so than motorcycles.”

Palin, whom Sen. John McCain elevated from an obscure governor to national star, set off from Washington on a tour of East Coast historical sites. Her political committee billed the swing as an opportunity for her family to visit historic sites as they worked their way to New England.