Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin says “sleazy” establishment Republicans are out to get her.

After a POLITICO story reporting that top GOP operatives in Washington — some of whom support her 2012 rivals — are working to stall her momentum in hopes of crippling a potential presidential run, Palin went on the Fox Business Network to attack the party establishment.

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“Some within the establishment don’t like the fact that I won’t back down to a good-old-boys club,” Palin said. “A lot of this has to do with control, power, money.”

Palin complained about the consultant culture in Washington, arguing that party operatives are often working in their own best interest rather than doing what is best for the party.

“Establishment bosses and advisers that try to shape a candidate and get paid to shape that candidate,” Palin said. “It’s very sleazy.”

Several of Palin’s potential 2012 rivals jumped to her defense after the story was published, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Asked about Romney as a potential presidential candidate, Palin said the former governor would be “a fine candidate.”

“I didn’t vote for him in the [2008] primary,” she said. “But Mitt Romney would be a good candidate. We have got some great candidates out there. Competition will breed success. We have to make sure in our party we don’t shy away from a competitive primary.”