SPRINGFIELD -- Sarah Palin brought her nationwide book tour to the Ozarks on Wednesday.  She arrived at 9:57 a.m. for a two-hour signing at Borders bookstore in Springfield, to be followed by a speech at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout in the evening.

Eager fans began lining up to see Palin at Borders around 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The first few in line weren't even locals. Bob Runtz came from Huntsville, Ark.

"I thought I'd be number 200," said Runtz, who was first.

Nicole Coulter drove in from Wichita, Kan.

"I liked her before it was cool to like her," Coulter said.

By 5 p.m. Tuesday, about 20 were in line.  That likely will grow through the night and into the early morning.  Palin will sign books at Borders between 10 a.m. and noon.  The store will open at 7 a.m.

The people in line braved a cool December night to be among the first to grab just a few moments face-to-face with the most compelling figure in the conservative movement.  Borders employees have been planning the visit for weeks.

"Her bus will come to the front, park in front. Hopefully, she'll say a few things and then maybe shake a few hands as she comes in the store. And she'll get right to the signing table," said Borders manager Gary Selby.

Thousands are expected but it's estimated that just 400 to 500 people will make it through the winding line.

"Once we get to about 500 people, we'll cut it off," said Selby.

The early birds made sure they secured their spots because they're also the diehard fans.  They defend Palin at every turn.

They've heard the charges of inexperience.

"Look at the president we have right now; he served in the state Legislature," said Coulter.  "What did he accomplish there? Can anybody please tell me?"

They've heard the criticism that Palin is all sizzle and lacks substance.

"(She proved you can) go to a state school and still made it, work through school and still made it, raise a bunch of kids and still made it; and that's what we identify with," said Patty Dixon of Nixa.

For Dixon, it's also about a personal connection that goes beyond politics.

"She is human and that's what we like," Dixon said. "The fact that she's a woman is a big plus."

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