Hundreds Excited About Chance To Meet Sarah Palin

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- Hundreds of people who want to meet former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin lined up for hours outside a Noblesville bookstore to get a wristband for an evening book-signing.

The Borders store at Hamilton Town Center began doling out wristbands, 25 people at a time, at 9 a.m., 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

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Just before noon, about 100 people were still outside waiting to score their bands, and about 60 of them didn't get them because just 1,000 wristbands were given out for the signing, which was set to run from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m.

"I'm bummed, but that's life," said Lisa Gruber, who had driven three hours for a chance to meet Palin.

Some had camped out through the night, but most began arriving at about 6 a.m., when the crowd swelled to more than 700 people.

Palin's book, "Going Rogue," went on sale Tuesday, but it has topped best-seller lists for weeks.

Wristbands were only given to people who had already bought the book at Borders and had a receipt for it, or those who bought the book while in the store Thursday morning.

Palin fans endured harsh weather, with threatening skies and temperatures in the 40s, for a chance to meet a woman they consider an idol.

"She's just the best. I mean, she just stands for everything that I believe in -- conservative values, conservative politics, good Republican, strong woman, great mom," said Tara Armstrong.

"We want to ask her if she's going to run for president," said Debra Carnes. "We're excited."

Exuberance was pervasive throughout the crowd in a line that snaked all the way around the parking lot.

"She's going to be a significant figure, I think, before it's all over," said Jeff Watson.

The store encouraged people who got wristbands to go home and come back later in the day for the signing, but organizers thought some might get back in line in an attempt to be first to see the former candidate.

"We came over from Illinois, about 2 and a half hours away," said Jansen Asbill. "This is the closest Sarah was going to be … so we figured this would be our opportunity."

The store will be cleared at 5 p.m. for a security check before Palin arrives. Store officials said Palin will come out and address a crowd outside from a small stage so that those who didn't get a wristband will get a chance to see her.

Palin was also set to sign books in Fort Wayne earlier in the day.