Sarah Palin's return to The Villages

Randy Highsmith, Chairman of the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee, was mentioned in coverage of the Sarah Palin Going Rogue Bus Tour's stop in The Villages by the Ocala Star-Banner today:

Randy Highsmith drove roughly 80 miles, spent the night in a parking lot hunkered down in a sleeping bag and waited more than hour with several hundred people as storm clouds gathered overhead — all just to spend just a few seconds in the presence of his icon.

And he loved every minute of it.

Highsmith was ecstatic shortly after leaving the Barnes & Noble bookstore in The Villages, where he met former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose book tour landed in Florida on Tuesday.

Palin’s visit to The Villages was sandwiched between appearances in the Jacksonville suburb of Orange Park and Orlando.

“She’s my political hero,” gushed Highsmith, tightly embracing two autographed copies of Palin’s memoir, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” and a handful of bookmarks. “I think she is as amazing as she is on TV.”

Highsmith had driven down from High Springs to The Villages on Monday night, arriving about 11 p.m. with his daughter, Alyssa, and father-in-law, Earl Mock.

There, the trio discovered that 114 people had already beat them to a spot in the store’s parking lot, awaiting Palin’s scheduled stop at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Last year’s Republican vice presidential candidate, who remains coy about her future presidential ambitions, had already provided Highsmith a reason to be thrilled by the book.

He serves as the national chairman of a group — 2012draftsarahcommittee.com — that hopes to see Palin to run for president, and Highsmith’s organization drew kudos from Palin in the book for its support of her.

“Not since Ronald Reagan have I been so excited about a political candidate,” Highsmith said. “I think she’s the standard-bearer for conservatives for 2010 and beyond.”

Read the rest of the story here.

- JP

Orlando Sentinel: Palin mania returns to The Villages

Her last visit drew an enthusiastic crowd which filled the streets of The Villages, but when Sarah Palin returns to the Florida retirement community for a book signing event November 24, the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Lake-Sumter Landing will only be able to accommodate a fraction of the number of people who turned out to see her last summer. Store manager Cheyenne Coon says extra precautions will be taken for for the former Alaska governor's visit:

People interested in getting an autograph will be required to wear wristbands, which can be picked up as early as 7 a.m. the day of the event. People who line up for the appearance are limited to two signed books per person and must show proof of a Barnes & Noble receipt, Coon said.

"We're expecting a large crowd," Coon said. "We're going to attempt to accommodate as many people as possible."

Residents of The Villages will have a second opportunity to see the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate:

"It'll be a busy time around here," Villages resident and Sumter County Commissioner Don Burgess, 73, said this week. "We're all excited."

Palin will be returning to friendly territory when she greets residents at her scheduled 2:30 p.m. autograph session. She became an instant sensation in the Republican stronghold after last year's GOP presidential nominee, John McCain, picked the then- Alaska governor to be his running mate. Upward of 60,000 people flocked to The Villages to hear Palin during a campaign stop.

Residents called Palin's appearance an inspiration for GOP supporters in the area.

"We're very excited about Sarah coming. We worked hard when she was here last year getting things ready for her," said Barbara Qualls, 72, president of the Republican Federated Women club in The Villages. "It was amazing to me how much energy she put into the Republican Party."

Our updated Going Rogue Book Tour schedule is here.

- JP