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Palin Thrills Wet Tea Party Crowd in Iowa

But keeps mum about presidential ambitions

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 3, 2011 3:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – Sarah Palin kept her presidential ambitions under wraps today in a 40-minute speech to thousands of very wet Iowans who had diligently waited for her in steady rain, the Des Moines Register reports. "We’re here because America is at a tipping point," Palin said at the Des Moines Tea Party rally, and told them the nation's crisis was worse than "a Midwest summer storm" that eventually "moves on." Later she told a reporter that she's happy with the current GOP slate but thought "there's room for more."

"I’m still not ready to make any kind of an announcement," Palin said as she signed a gun at the rope line after the speech. "I’m still trying to figure it out, if it’s the right thing to do." Queried about Christine O'Donnell's invitation—then dis-invitation, re-invitation, and final dis-invitation—to warm up Palin's Iowa crowd, Palin said, "Oh, I didn't organize this, so I don't know."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin greets Tea Party members after speaking at the Restoring America event, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reacts as she walks on stage before speaking to Tea Party members during the Restoring America event, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gestures as she walks on stage before speaking to Tea Party members during the Restoring America event, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A supporter for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wears buttons during the Restoring America event, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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Palin Thrills Wet Tea Party Crowd in Iowa

But keeps mum about presidential ambitions

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Iowa • Des Moines • Sarah Palin • Election 2012 • Tea Party • Sarah Palin 2012

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And she should 'just run so we can get this over with'

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When you've got a 59% disapproval rating, best not to mention them at all

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Looks like Sarah won this round

Palin's Iowa Appearance 'on Hold'

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