Die-hard supporters treated the event like another Black Friday, lining up outside in freezing weather before the mall doors opened at 5 a.m.
Emily Calhoon, a high school junior from Minnetonka, took the day off from school with a group of fellow students and arrived at 4:45 a.m. Calhoon, 16, said she likes Palin's conservatism.
"She's a lot more relatable than the stereotypical old rich white male," said Calhoon as she waited in line, clutching a copy of Palin's memoir of her life and political career, "Going Rogue."
The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee arrived just before noon. Wearing her trademark red, she took the stage joined by her husband, Todd, and carrying their son Trig.
Palin did not address the crowd and did not take questions from the large contingent of reporters. She started signing books immediately and kept it up for four hours. Mall security said 2,000 people got their books signed.
Later in the day, Palin was scheduled to headline a high-dollar private fundraiser at a nearby hotel for GOP candidates for Minnesota's House of Representatives. An invitation to the event obtained by The Associated Press listed the cost as $5,000 per person or couple.
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