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Book Tour Shows Palin Hitting a Nerve

'Going Rogue' phenomenon may foreshadow something bigger

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2009 2:46 PM CST

(Newser) – Just 5 days into her book tour, first-time author Sarah Palin is attracting crowds so huge and adoring that they're feeding speculation about her political future. The philosophy that moved one fan to call her "the female Ronald Reagan" is nothing new, experts tell Erika Bolstad of the Anchorage Daily News, "but Palin seems to have seized on something timely by putting her brand on common-sense conservatism."

"I'm there for her," said a fan at a signing who had to be reminded that Palin isn't actually running for office at the moment. "She can see where this country needs to go." Distrust of big government and liberal elites are notes that resonate in the carefully selected communities where Palin is flogging Going Rogue, Bolstad notes. "That populism that she's tapped into, it's partly a politics of resentment," says a professor of politics. "She's very much somebody who bristles with all sorts of resentments."

Sarah Palin talks to a young fan while at a book tour stop in Roanoke, Va., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2009.
Sarah Palin talks to a young fan while at a book tour stop in Roanoke, Va., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Don Petersen)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin signs a copy of her memoir, Going Rogue, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers Norwood, Ohio, on  Nov. 20, 2009.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin signs a copy of her memoir, "Going Rogue," at Joseph-Beth Booksellers Norwood, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Caroline Perkins of Roanoke, Va., keeps warm in the early-morning cold while waiting for Sarah Palin on her book tour stop at a Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
Caroline Perkins of Roanoke, Va., keeps warm in the early-morning cold while waiting for Sarah Palin on her book tour stop at a Barnes & Noble in Roanoke, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Don Petersen)
A woman in the crowd wears a Palin 2012 shirt while waiting in line to have Sarah Palin sign her book Going Rogue at the Sam's Club warehouse store in Washington, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.
A woman in the crowd wears a Palin 2012 shirt while waiting in line to have Sarah Palin sign her book "Going Rogue" at the Sam's Club warehouse store in Washington, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Sarah Palin waves to fans before an autograph session during the first stop of her book tour in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
Sarah Palin waves to fans before an autograph session during the first stop of her book tour in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Adam Bird)
Sarah Palin buttons for sale outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore where Palin was autographing books during a book tour stop in Roanoke, Va., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
Sarah Palin buttons for sale outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore where Palin was autographing books during a book tour stop in Roanoke, Va., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Don Petersen)
Randall Hartman of Monroe, Mich., holds up his autographed books during the first stop of Sarah Palin's book tour in Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
Randall Hartman of Monroe, Mich., holds up his autographed books during the first stop of Sarah Palin's book tour in Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Adam Bird)
Sarah Palin interacts with a customer during a book-signing event in the Rochester suburb of Henrietta, NY, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.
Sarah Palin interacts with a customer during a book-signing event in the Rochester suburb of Henrietta, NY, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Don Heupel)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 79 comments
lindamae
Nov 24, 2009 8:00 AM CST
wow, Larry - you just defined Obama!
lindamae
Nov 24, 2009 7:59 AM CST
right! AP. After they finished, the fact checkers were checked by non liberals to show how once again - they manipulated the news. It is just getting so tedious.
Reader68389796
Nov 23, 2009 12:56 PM CST
Wait until Levi hit his nerve! Guaranteed, as soon as Sarah starts to make any move toward 2012, we can count on Levi to give us a bombshell.

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