Sarah Palin book tour draws eager crowd in Henrietta
Accompanied by family members, former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin arrived in Rochester on Saturday and signed thousands of copies of her book to a mostly adoring crowd at Borders Books & Music in Henrietta.
More than 1,000 people were there to greet Palin and have her sign copies of her book, Going Rogue: An American Life. Many had been there all day and said the wait was well worth it.
Palin’s personal approach that made her a media superstar during the 2008 presidential campaign was apparent, said Bernie Allen of Webster.
“She shook my hand, and everyone else’s,” said Allen, who got in line about 1:30 a.m. “She’s staring you right in the eye, which people appreciate. I thanked her for the woman she is, and I told her, ‘Just keep giving ‘em hell.’”
Palin’s parents and two of her children, Piper and Trig, joined her for the local appearance. Her father, Chuck Heath, who was wearing a black fleece jacket with a design of Alaska on the back, said he was amazed with the overwhelmingly positive response.
Indeed, well-wishers brought Palin gifts such as long-stemmed roses and personal notes that were piled on a table near the main entrance to Borders.
“This book signing looked like a campaign rally,” said Heath, who said he flew all day from Anchorage to be in Rochester.
Bill Nojay, an event organizer, said Palin’s flight and her parents’ flight arrived within 20 minutes of each other, and they both headed right to Borders. Both were charter flights.
Heath said supporters got to see the real Palin, an aspect of the charismatic politician’s personality that he said was not readily apparent when she ran for vice president in 2008.
“They kept her bottled up,” he said “Now, she’s herself. She didn’t show this during the campaign.”
Heath said he’s often approached by people asking him of his daughter’s future political plans. That’s a topic they don’t discuss, he said.
“I never asked her, so I never know. But what you see here might be a good indicator,” he said, gesturing to the enthusiastic crowd.
“You haven’t seen the last of her.”
Palin left Borders at 9:12 p.m. through a back door. She stopped to wave and smile to the crowd, but did not address the crowd.
Nojay said Palin signed books for everyone who wanted one, about 2,000 in all.
“This was an immensely successful event,” Nojay said. “Everybody that wanted, got their books signed.”
Organizers had previously said that Palin would sign 1,000 books.
Palin and her crew were heading directly from Borders to Virginia, where she has two more book signings scheduled for today, Nojay said.
The crowd, which grew throughout the day and eventually wrapped around the back of Borders, was well-behaved for the most part.
One person was arrested for disorderly conduct earlier in the day for allegedly swearing at a deputy, said sheriff’s Cpl. John Helfer.
Organizers used a public-address system to inform people to stay on the sidewalk and out of the parking lot where vehicles were passing.
A group of protesters arrived about 5:30 p.m., just before Palin arrived, carrying signs with messages such as “Anti-choice is not a feminist stance” and “equal marriage = equal rights.” A few members of the crowd waiting to get in the store shouted, “Go home!” and “This is our day!” but otherwise, there were no problems, police said.
“Sarah Palin is for everything that I’m against, and I’m for everything that she’s against,” said one protester, R.J. Bean of Rochester, a member of the International Socialist Organization, who mentioned his support for universal health care, a woman’s right to choice and gay rights.
Monroe County sheriff’s deputies, including some on horseback, monitored the crowd.
Palin was brought in through a back entrance to the store, away from the crowds. She signed in an area in the back of the store, near the music and DVD department.
Palin sat at a table with about a half-dozen armed sheriff’s deputies nearby.
As people went through the line, she greeted each with a handshake and thanked them.
She said to one man, “Thank you for your service.”
Jack and Ginger Marinello of Amherst, Erie County, walked out with signed copies. They got to Borders about 2 a.m. Saturday.
“She shook our hands and talked to us,” said Ginger Marinello. “She was very appreciative. She didn’t just brush us off.”
Leading up to the appearance, more than 1,000 Palin fans had braved the chilly morning for a chance to get her autograph.
Fans started lining up at Borders at 4:30 p.m. Friday, and by 7:30 a.m. the line was past Toys R Us in the plaza. Borders opened at 9 and immediately started issuing 1,000 wristbands that were good for two book signings.
Amy Malzeke of Horseheads, Chemung County, was first in line.
“I thought I would be 50 back or something like that,” said Malzeke, whose husband stayed home with their children. “I was not prepared for being first and all the media that is here.
“I’m a huge fan just because I respect her,” Malzeke said. “I have never done this with anyone, but I figure this is my one shot ever to see her.”
AMORRELL@DemocratandChronicle.com
MPRITCHARD@DemocratandChronicle.com
Hot seller
Going Rogue is going big.
Publisher HarperCollins said Friday that Sarah Palin’s memoir sold 300,000 copies its first day, among the best openings ever for a nonfiction book. Going Rogue was released last week and its print run already has been increased from 1.5 million copies to 2.5 million.
