Palin's Iowa Book Tour Visits Renews Talk of 2012 Presidential Run

Dec. 7, 2009
Palin Iowa Stop Renews 2012 Talk
Book Tour Sweeps Through Hawkeye State; Pundits Point Anew to Possible Presidential Run


CBS) Sarah Palin's book tour landed in Iowa over the weekend.

And, reports CBS News Correspondent Michelle Gielan, as the former running mate of GOP presidential candidate John McCain greeted hundreds of fans in Sioux City, power players in Washington were abuzz about whether the stop signals a Palin try for the Oval Office in 2012.

"The beauty for Sarah Palin is that a successful book tour can also be a successful launch of a presidential career,' CBS News political consultant John Dickerson said of the ex-Alaska governor.

Iowa isn't just any state. Its caucuses kick off the 2012 campaign season.

And buyers there of Palin's "Going Rogue" already sound a lot like potential voters.

"Yes, she has a chance," one told CBS News. "I think people are tired of the way things are run."

"I really think that she's a great symbol for the United States," said another.

Plain won over the conservative Iowa crowd after taking on a tougher audience Saturday -- Washington journalists gathered for their annual Gridiron Dinner.

In a joke-fueled speech, Palin said her book tour is better than her failed campaign with McCain, quipping, "The view is much better from inside the bus than under it."

McCain continues to insist he's proud of Palin, asserting on the NBC News program "Meet the Press" that, "We need vigorous discussion and debate in the Republican Party. She's gonna be a big part of that discussion and debate in the future."

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