Updated: Sarah Palin signs books at Borders in West Des Moines

Crowd five times size of that for Gingrich at same store last week
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Gov. Palin began signing books a few minutes early at the Borders bookstore in Des Moines this evening:

About 400 people were standing in the line that snaked through the west side store for the 2008 vice presidential nominee’s book-signing. Palin, who is weighing a 2012 bid for the Republican presidential nomination, was scheduled to sign copies of her new book, “America By Heart: Reflections on Family Faith and Flag” at 6 p.m.

At 5:36 p.m., Palin breezed in the back of the store through a service entrance and prompted brief cheers from those first in line for signatures. Palin, in a bright red jacket and black pants, gave a quick wave to the audience before being whisked behind a staff door.

At 5:42 p.m., she popped back out, ducked behind the black curtain and the line of waiting fans began moving. Palin’s daughters Willow and Piper were with the former Alaska governor.

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Pundits are watching today’s stop because of its political significance, as Iowa's presidential nominating caucuses are on the calendar for February 6, 2012.

Updates...

The New York Times observed that the crowd she drew was was "at least five times the number of people who turned out" at the same bookstore the previous week for Newt Gingrich.

Gov. Palin deflected questions asked her by The Des Moines Register about "when she planned to decide whether she will run in 2012."

According to the Associated Press, she insisted that the book signing event "was not for political purposes."

Iowa blogger Shane Vander Hart, who attended the Des Moines event, believes that "if she should choose to run she could do very well in Iowa."

Palin TV has a photo gallery of pics from the Des Moines book signing.

- JP