Sarah Palin Says She Isn't Responsible for the GOP's Loss

Nov. 16, 2009 — -- On the eve of the release of her new book, Sarah Palin reiterated in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she's not to blame for the Republican Party's loss in the 2008 presidential election.

"I think the reason we lost is that the economy tanked under a Republican and people were very seriously looking for a change," Palin said today on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

"I don't think I was to blame for losing the race more than I could have been credited for winning the race if I had done a better job."

Palin, whose book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," hits bookstores Tuesday, spoke candidly with Winfrey about the way she says she was told to act and speak during the campaign and the effect it had on her family.

Having been given flashcards to prepare her for the debates, the vice presidential candidate told Winfrey, one side of the card would have a question and the other side would have a series of "non-answers."

Watch Barbara Walters' interview with Sarah Palin starting Tuesday on "Good Morning America", "World News" and "Nightline", more Wednesday on "Good Morning America," and the full interview on "20/20" Friday, Nov. 20 at 10 p.m. ET.

"If I were to respond to a reporter's question very candidly, very honestly … I'd be told afterwards that 'you screwed up,'" Palin said.

Palin said she liked having her clothes laid out for her during the campaign because it was "one less thing to worry about," adding, however, that there were times, particularly before her family appeared at the Republican National Convention, when she felt as though she were on the popular makeover show "What Not to Wear."

Also questioned about what she was told to eat during the campaign, Palin said she found it strange that campaign operatives talked to her about sticking to the Atkins diet at the same time the McCain-Palin numbers were tanking.