Sarah Palin makes S.C. stop on new book tour

COLUMBIA -- Sarah Palin ended her latest book tour with a stop in the key presidential primary state of South Carolina, which has sided with the winner of the Republican presidential nomination since 1980.

Palin signed copies of her book "America by Heart" for three hours Friday at a Books-a-Million store in suburban Columbia starting at 6 p.m. It's the 16th stop on a tour that began a little more than two weeks ago.

The former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate was last in Columbia in May to endorse now Gov.-elect Nikki Haley. A few weeks later Haley knocked off three more established candidates to win the GOP nomination.

Haley said Thursday she plans to endorse a presidential candidate before the primary, but she wants to give everyone in the race time to campaign in the state.

Palin has said she is considering a run for president in 2012, and she isn't the only potential candidate hanging around South Carolina about 14 months before the primary.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will be at Republican events in Charleston on Friday and Saturday, while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the headliner of a Dec. 16 fundraiser in Spartanburg County called "Christmas with Newt!"

Exit polling done among voters Nov. 2 found an overwhelming majority of South Carolina Republicans said they approved of Palin. But they also split among Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee when asked which candidate they favored to be the party's nominee in 2012.

The book store handed out 500 wristbands Wednesday to people guaranteed to get Palin's autograph. Palin will sign up to two books, but will only write her name. No personal messages or photographs with her will be allowed.