COLORADO SPRINGS — Taylor Schettler could not keep her voice from trailing up into a squeal as she talked about a brief meeting with her hero Sarah Palin during the former Republican vice presidential candidate’s book-signing here Tuesday night.
Schettler, the 2009 Miss Colorado Teen USA, brought her “Pageant Queens for Palin” sign. She had compiled a packet of inspirational quotes, jokes and a letter to Palin. And she bought a new outfit.
“I have so much in common with her. She’s a real person,” said Schettler, 17. “I just met the next president of the United States. I couldn’t even think, I was so excited!”
She and her dad were fifth in a line of more than 800 people hoping to get a few words with Palin and an autographed copy of her best-selling memoir, “Going Rogue: An American Life.”
Many braved single-digit temperatures outside Chapel Hills Mall for a predawn rush on color-coded wristbands that allowed them to return later to stand in line in hopes of meeting the former Alaska governor at the Borders bookstore.
But not everyone was sure to visit with Palin. Event organizers cut the number of guaranteed signatures from 1,000 to 600, hoping to avoid scenes like the angry protest in Indiana last month after hundreds of eager autograph-seekers were turned away, said Wanda Fisher, senior marketing manager at Borders.
Another 100 people were told they would probably meet with Palin, and the remaining fans could choose to wait in case there was more time with Palin, Fisher said.
The last-minute news angered some, but about 100 people without wristbands continued to linger.
In a line awash in red, white and blue, people wore Palin paraphernalia and passed out “Palin for president” fliers.
But some in line were neither gung-ho fans nor advocating her policies.
“She’s intriguing to me, but I can’t really say I’m a fanatic,” said Tyler Quintana, 18, of Colorado Springs. “If you get the chance to meet someone who ignites this type of fanaticism, it’s worth doing.”
Security was tight at the three-hour event. Autograph- seekers had to leave coats and belongings with staff before meeting Palin.
Reporters were barred from the signing area. Tour staff declined to say why and referred questions to a publishing executive, who did not return a call for comment.
In the ever-growing wait- and-see line, less-jubilant fans waited without word whether they would ever meet the woman they had waited hours to see.
“I think she’s awesome. She is totally a real person,” said Kathy Fuerst of Castle Rock, who was bringing up the rear. “I’m just hoping that the cold kept some of those other people away.”
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
