The Standard

Issue date: 12/8/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Gulledge

Media Credit: Michael Gulledge

Katie Long slept outside of Borders bookstore the night of Dec. 1 for a chance to meet Sarah Palin.

"I'm doing it for a friend," Long said.

Long, a senior fashion merchandising major, said she wouldn't have come on her own, but her fellow campers in line greeted her with hospitality.

"It was all very friendly," said Gwen Beem, who drove from Warsaw, Mo. with her husband Terry Beem.

Long and the Beems waited in line together all night.

"I fell asleep a couple times," Long said. "Every time I woke up there were 20 or 25 more people."

Terry Beem said there were people camped out with tents, air mattresses and heaters.

More than 1,000 people waited outside Borders on the morning of Dec. 2, and not all with a guarantee to meet the former governor of Alaska and one-time vice presidential candidate.

The 500-allotted wristbands ran out just before 9 a.m., volunteer Dalton Shultz said. To get a wristband, supporters must have purchased a copy of Palin's new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life."

Palin arrived via a "Going Rogue" tour bus at 10 a.m. sharp. This left hundreds of band-less hopefuls waiting outside.

"She's signing pretty fast," said Gary Selby, Borders' general manager. "I think we'll get more (than 500) through."

Selby said people started waiting outside at 1:30 p.m. the day before.

"This is a big Palin area," he said. "We were one of the top stores for advanced reservations of the book."

Selby said the Springfield Borders was ranked 7th in the country in advanced reservations for "Going Rogue."

"The rally at Bass Pro last year got the interest going," he said. "She's coming here and College of the Ozarks. No one else in Missouri is getting her; we're pretty excited."

A group of four girls from Kanakuk Kamp in Branson, a character development camp with Christian focus, arrived at 5 a.m. to get books signed and show Palin support.

"We found out she was coming in town last night, skipped class and did some networking," Caroline Moony said. "We're having a Sarah Palin day."

Brooke Roberts is a teacher at the Kanakuk School.

"We love that she's a woman in politics, but she stands for more than dirty politics," she said. "I like that she puts her family first."

Valerie Baldwin had read some of Palin's book.

"I loved to hear her side of the story straight from her mouth," she said. "I look more at character and morals before experience. I think that's what will make good policy."

Blake Miller, a senior administration management major, said waiting overnight was worth it.

"She's a normal person, not all wrapped up in politics," he said. "She shook my hand. I've seen (Mike) Huckabee and others before; they never did that."

Long and the Beems walked away from the signing table with big grins after meeting Palin, her parents and baby Trig.

"That was so exciting," Gwen Beem said. "She really looked like she was enjoying it."

Although she didn't on Dec. 2, sometimes Palin will speak to the crowd, Selby said.

"We had the stage set up just in case," he said. "I know it can't be the cold weather. She's from Alaska. She's used to this."

The lone protestor stood across the street, outside of the Borders bookstore parking lot.

There, Dr. Tracy Blevins, 39, from New York City braved cold wind and vulgar shouts from cars passing by.

"I came from New York because Palin was going to be here," she said. "She's not the mother she claims to be. I haven't decided if I want to follow her around or not."

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