13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Palin fans flock to Indiana book signings

Palin fans flock to Indiana book signings

Kevin Rader/Eyewitness News

Fort Wayne and Noblesville - Former Alaska Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin visited Indiana Thursday to promote her memoir, Going Rogue.

Thousands of people waited for hours outside of a Hamilton County bookstore for the chance to meet her. She first stopped in Fort Wayne to sign her new autobiography before coming to Noblesville for another book signing.

It started in the early morning hours.  Hoosiers in Fort Wayne lined up at Mejier to get the chance to meet Sarah Palin.

"I can't wait to read the book. I bought it this morning. I wanted to get her signature," said Christy Kroft.

"She speaks with charisma and stamina.  How can you ignore her?" said Sarah Fahl.

"Any woman who go out and shoot moose and caribou has got my vote," said Chris Fahl.

The Going Rogue RV carrying the former Alaska governor arrived just minutes before the signing was scheduled to begin. Then the former Republican vice presidential candidate turned author began to engage her fans.

"I think she's more like grass roots, back to the way things used to be. I think we've gotten a little away from that," said Bob Price.

"I like Sarah Palin," said Mary Speckhard. "I would have voted for her. I hope she runs in 2012.  She stands for everything I believe in. She's pro-life, conservative and she's not embarrassed about it. She's great."

Palin didn't speak to the media in Fort Wayne, although she addressed the crowd in Noblesville briefly before the signing.

The last time she came through the state, she told Eyewitness News that her popularity did not surprise her.

"The popularity I don't take personally. I am very blessed to have this opportunity to represent some ideals that so many Americans do represent, just every day hard-working American families. I think I am able to speak to the heart of Americans because I feel the heart of America and I understand the challenges our families are going through," she said.

"She's awesome," said Janet Edwards, who arrived at 4:30 am to get a place in line. "I would have stayed all day."

From Chris Proffitt and Emily Longnecker in Noblesville:

Only two days into her book tour, Sarah Palin has already done what Hollywood's biggest stars could only hope for: hundreds of the faithful, lining up before a cold dawn, hoping to be one of a thousand people that get a copy of her memoir personally signed.

"I've been entranced by her since she first made the scene," said Linda Decloedt.

That scene took her to a sell-out campaign rally last fall at Verizon Wireless Music Center. So it's no coincidence that Palin made Hamilton County, a GOP stronghold, an early stop on her book tour.

"I'm here to show my support for her. I love here. She believes what I do. Morals, values and everything that's good for America," said Julie Deemer, Indianapolis.

Palin speaks to crowd

"Thank you, guys," Palin said to the large crowd. "Aw, Noblesville, this is so great, especially out in the rain. You guys are hard core patriots and I thank you so much for being here."

More than a thousand Palin supporters stood outside in the cold and rain for hours.

"I wrote my book dedicated to good Americans like all of you. Hardworking, patriotic Americans," she said. "You're going to have an opportunity to read my story, my words, unfiltered."

Palin's account of the campaign has been criticized by some in her own party, including former campaign aides for John McCain. But judging from the crowd in Hamilton County, a GOP stronghold, it's clear Palin has found her own stronghold not among party insiders but in the grassroots.

Palin's book was a best seller weeks before it went on sale, and the tour shows she's clearly not content to retire to the political wilderness. Her supporters are already talking about the 2012 presidential race.

"Honesty is a big factor in my mind. I feel she's an honest politician, which is rare these days," said Pricilla Clark, Maine.

"I think she's gutsy. She's put up with a lot from the media and she's still standing tall," said Jane Knecht, Carmel.

The title of her book says everything about the outsider political image Palin is cultivating, and it has clearly struck a nerve in friendly confines with conservative voters during a book tour that so far looks more like a political campaign.

Grand Rapids appearance

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wednesday, over 1,000 people were estimated to have turned out for Palin's book signing there.

"Going Rogue" follows Palin from childhood to her departure last summer as Alaska governor. The title refers to her independent streak as a candidate, stemming from complaints within the campaign of GOP presidential nominee John McCain that she had gone "rogue" by disagreeing with the campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan last October.

McCain halted his campaign in the state after internal polls showed Obama approaching a double-digit lead. Palin publicly disagreed with the move and said she'd "sure love to get to run to Michigan" to make sure residents know the Republicans had not given up in the state.

Before the pullout, Palin had campaigned with McCain in Grand Rapids and the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights. Her three-week book tour is expected to largely mirror the 2008 race with stops in cities such as Noblesville, Ind.; Washington, Pa., and Rochester, N.Y.