Palin 2012?

WaPo, Bloomberg, Times of London:

Sarah Palin fuelled speculation that she will run for the White House in 2012 by doing two things yesterday: poking fun at herself at a famous journalists’ dinner in Washington — a ritual for presidential hopefuls — and visiting Iowa, site of the first nominating contest.

Mrs Palin, last year’s Republican vice-presidential candidate, made a rare appearance in Washington, as guest speaker at the winter dinner of the Gridiron Club of leading Washington journalists. It is a venue at which many presidential hopefuls have appeared, including Barack Obama.

The idea is to be funny and self-deprecating. Mrs Palin, the former Alaska governor, managed both...

By all accounts, she did well. Very well. Even the leftie (Brit) Guardian had only good words.

Hundreds lined up overnight for the book-signing in Sioux City. Palin ran a bit late as she had been visiting wounded soldiers at DC's Walter Reed prior to her flight.

There's something about Sarah, due at Mall of America tomorrow.

I had coffee with one of my rightie friends, an educator, this afternoon. She's reading the book. She thinks Sarah Palin is the real deal, very impressive. So do I.

Have any of us ever seen people turning out in such numbers for a book-signing? Never before.

Have the tea parties brought people out in huge numbers nationwide? Never before, from many who had never been involved in politics. A spontaneous groundswell of independent-minded Americans rising up last spring and continuing to grow--perhaps now discovering their common sense leader.

P.S. Jonathan Martin, The Politico (Come on, can't you explain she was late because she was visiting the wounded at Walter Reed?):

Though some wearing Cornhusker red came from Nebraska, just over the Missouri River, many were from this city and the surrounding northwest Iowa counties that traditionally give Republican candidates some of their largest margins in the state.

But they weren't the sort of party regulars who comprise the county GOP committees and always show up when a national politician comes to town. Many said they hadn't previously participated in the state's quadrennial caucuses and some indicated that they weren't even sure what the caucuses are. And while most were self-identified conservatives, there were also registered Republicans or independents who had previously backed candidates of both parties but who were drawn to Palin because of what she represents.

Jane Mild, along with her daughter, Sarah, left their rural Guthrie County home at 6 in the morning to drive to Sioux City.

A precinct captain for Gov. Bill Richardson, a New Mexico Democrat, in 2008, Mild said she and her teenage daughter were inspired by Palin and see her as a model for women.

“I wish she was treated more fairly,” Mild said, noting the reports about her family and wardrobe. “She gets asked a lot of questions men don’t get asked.”

..OK, you did mention why she was late, thanks.