Sarah Heath takes a job with ESPN as a sportscaster in 1988, shortly after obtaining her bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Idaho. This, of course, leads her to move to Bristol, Connecticut, straining her relationship with Todd Palin, leading to the couple's eventual breakup in the Summer of 1989.
Living in the more liberal state of Connecticut didn't shape Ms. Heath's political beliefs at the outset, she had always been a bit more conservative than the average girl her age, but this too, would pass. Her long work hours put a strain on her churchgoing, which had been quite important to Ms. Heath in Wasilla, but by 1990, she'd largely grown out of this habit. At any rate, Heath was becoming more liberal, largely because of her relationship with a certain Keith Olbermann, a fellow sportscaster on ESPN's SportsCenter.
The relationship would not last, but it's effects on Heath's own liberalism, which became profound with her support of and work for the Lieberman Senate campaign in 1994. The campaign helped her make a number of political connections, and in 1996, Heath decided to forego another year at ESPN to run for Bristol's city council. Running as a 'Lieberman Democrat', Heath won a seat on the Council, and would go on to become the city's mayor four years later, riding the coattails of Vice President Gore in the state.
As Mayor, Heath garnered a reputation as a 'Maverick', cutting taxes and increasing social spending, while fighting conservative board members over censorship issues regarding library books in the city's public schools. Heath would be re-elected despite electoral weakness on the part of the Democrats in 2004, and would thus increase her standing within the party.
Heath supported Joe Lieberman in the 2006 primary battle against Ned Lamont, campaigning for him even after his defeat in the primary. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Heath supported the Presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton, breaking with Lieberman's tacit endorsement of John McCain.
In late 2009, Heath announced her intention to challenge incumbent Chris Dodd in the Democratic senatorial primary. She has garnered strong support from liberal activists, backing off her prior support for the Iraq War effort in favor of a populist, anti-bailout message and offering her own support for President Barack Obama's health care reform plan.