More than 1500 people showed up to have their book signed by Sarah Palin in Roanoke on Sunday. Some of them arrived 26 hours early and braved a cold night outside the Barnes and Noble. Yes, the camped out with nothing more than blankets and folding chairs.

Frankly, I am somewhat shocked. I am certainly aware that Palin has strong base of support. Remember, in our area she had the biggest event of the 2008 presidential campaign. 14,000 people sat outside in the Salem Stadium (one of the coldest places in our viewing area) for hours to hear her speech. That crowd was almost double Barack Obama’s largest campaign event.

But, what we saw on Sunday exceeded strong. It most closely resembles fervent. Her supporters love her and are willing to endure some very uncomfortable conditions to even see her, much get close to her.

So, what does Palin do with this support? I have no idea and long ago stopped predicting what a politician will do and who will win an election. If I was still predicting such things, John McCain would have easily won the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, Mark Warner would have run for president last year, Hillary Clinton would have beaten Barack Obama in the Democratic primary, George Bush would have comfortably won his first election in 2000, George Allen would have been reelected in 2006, and our governor’s race this year would have been a 5 point race (with McDonnell winning) instead of the blow out we witnessed.

So, you can see why I don’t do predictions anymore!

But, I do know this… and I’m willing to publicly state it. Every prospective Republican presidential candidate would love to have even half Sarah Palin’s support. They have to be green with envy. Can you imagine people camping out for 26 hours in frigid weather to meet Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney? Can you see 14,000 people enduring one of the coldest days of the year to see Mike Huckabee for 15 minutes?

The only other politician who can rival that kind of admiration and devotion from his supporters is President Barack Obama. That’s it.

What she does with that support remains to be seen. But make no mistake… she has a grassroots base that is willing to go to battle for her and that makes her a force to be reckoned with.