The Book Tour May Be the New Campaign Trail

As everyone knows by now, Sarah Palin has kicked off the tour for "Going Rogue," focusing her travels on the kinds of smaller cities and communities where she and John McCain did well in the 2008 presidential campaign. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the New York Times reports, thousands of Palin fans began lining up in 39 degree weather up to 24 hours before her appearance.

Mike Huckabee rolled into Grand Rapids, Michigan to promote his book "A Simple Christmas," and the Tribune noted that he "stands, as a president would, even to sign books."

Mitt Romney is scheduled to come out with a book next spring called "No Apology: The Case for America's Greatness."

"The author-politicians can operate in an environment more tightly controlled than an announced run for office," the Tribune's story said. "They can focus on building personal ties to their most passionate supporters independent of local party officials. They can sidestep the pesky national news media in favor of generally hospitable local coverage."