Scott Brown Praises Palin, But Says He Supports Romney in 2012

Sen. Scott Brown says that he thinks former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is qualified to be president, but in 2012, he'll most likely be supporting his fellow Massachusetts Republican, former Gov. Mitt Romney.

"I am going to support Gov. Romney, and I'm going to see who's out there in the field and make my decision," Brown said in an interview that aired on NBC's "Today Show."

Brown's unlikely victory in the Massachusetts Senate special election earlier this year has prompted people to speculate about his political future, but he said he is "absolutely" ruling out a 2012 presidential bid.

"I've been here three months... and I'm very focused on doing my job," he said. When asked whether he would consider running for president at some other point, Brown said, " I'm not even going to jump at that [question]."

Brown has been hailed by the Tea Party as a symbol of the country's return to conservatism, but he has taken heat from the right for voting with Democrats on a jobs bill.

"Whether I'm out of step with the party.... I don't care," Brown said. "I'm going to be the independent voter and person I've always been."