NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she is not interested in running for the U.S. Senate and prefers her current position as governor of Alaska.

“No, I’m not planning on it because I think the people of Alaska will best be served with me as their governor,” Palin, who has two years left in her term, told NBC television in an interview.

Interest in the 44-year-old first-term governor has remained intense since she and Republican presidential candidate John McCain lost the election to Democrat Barack Obama and his vice presidential running mate Joe Biden a week ago. She has granted several television interviews since then.

Palin has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012 or a possible contender for the Alaskan U.S. Senate seat held by Ted Stevens, who may be forced out of Congress because he was convicted of seven felonies for failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts.

If Stevens loses his seat, Palin could run for it in a special election.

“You know, when you talk about that white hot spotlight -- that’s not really attractive to me,” Palin said about running.

But she left open the possibility of running for president. Obama would be up for re-election in 2012.

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“Well, life is very unpredictable. And that’s the excitement of life. You never know what is around the next corner,” Palin said. “And I do not know what is around the next corner. I don’t know what opportunities will be there.”

In an interview broadcast on Monday, Palin also suggested she might run for higher office in 2012 if the right opportunity presents itself.

“Show me where the open door is. Even if it’s cracked up a little bit, maybe I’ll plow right on through that and maybe prematurely plow through it, but don’t let me miss an open door,” Palin said in an interview on Fox News’ “On The Record” program. She did not specify which office she might be interested in seeking.

“If there is an open door in ‘12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I’ll plow through that door,” Palin said in the Fox interview.