Sarah-PalinWASHINGTON - The ex-boyfriend of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s daughter, Levi Johnston, has claimed that Palin has decided to resign because she could not take the political heat anymore.

“She’s very smart. But, I just don’t think she can handle the stress level as governor-I don’t think she can handle it as president or vice president,” the Daily News quoted Johnston, as saying.

The 19-year-old high school dropout and former fiancé of Palin’s daughter Bristol, said on the “Today” show that he wouldn’t vote for Palin if she launched a presidential bid.

“If you would have asked that question a while back, I think I would have voted for her. But after what she has done now…I’d do just about anything for her. But I really don’t think I’d vote for her if she ran for president,” Johnston said.

Johnston also said he heard the vanquished GOP vice presidential nominee saying money was a primary motive.

“We had tons of offers coming in from everybody out there and just all kinds of ridiculous things. There’s been talk about it would be nice to just take the money and run,” he said.

Earlier, Palin’s spokeswoman publicly disputed Johnston’s commentary on her reasons for resigning.

“It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills,” the spokeswoman said.

On the show, Johnston also recalled his stay at the Palins’ last year, saying Palin would come home “stressed out” in the weeks following the election.

“She wasn’t as outgoing. I just didn’t see the spark in her eyes about, you know, being governor anymore.She was quiet, spending time in her room, he said. “We could tell something was wrong. She was sad, she lost. I mean, who wouldn’t be,” he said. (ANI)