Palin visits Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES - Sarah Palin promised to try the fried butter.

But that was about as far as the former Republican vice presidential candidate would go on her plans during her Friday stop at the Iowa State Fair.

Palin toured the swine barn and took time to shake hands and pose for photos with fairgoers as a crush of media followed her throughout the grounds, lobbing question after question at her.

Does she plan to make a run for president? There will be an announcement sometime in September or October, she said.

Whom does she support of the current candidates seeking the Republican nomination? It's too early to say, she answered.

Is there even room for more candidates, such as Rick Perry or herself, in the race? The more the merrier, she said.

Why even come to the Iowa State Fair?

"I am accepting an invitation to be here to experience this wonderful, historic event on our ‘One Nation' bus tour," she said.

Palin did take some shots at President Barack Obama on the downgrading of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poor's.

"The question should be asked, ‘Is the president responsible for the downgrade?' I would say yes, because leadership starts at the top," Palin said. "The last group or entity that should be blamed for the downgrade is the Tea Party. They're ones who sounded the alarm for the last couple years that we would be downgraded if we didn't have a plan in place for ratcheting down the debt."

She also said that the media did a poor job in vetting the president and the country is now paying the price. She said the vetting Obama received was "not even close" to what she experienced as a vice presidential candidate.

"That Barack Obama was vetted as much as Sarah Palin has been vetted? I don't think I've heard anything as ridiculous," she said.

While her visit may not have provided much insight into her political plans, it certainly provided fairgoers with a chance for some time with Palin, who seemed to be more celebrity than politician at this stage of the game.

"How else are you going to meet someone who you are going to see on TV all the time?" said Kris Barkema of Washington, Iowa, who was posting the shot she had just taken of Palin to her Facebook account via her smartphone.

Barkema said she's not supporting any particular candidate, and if Palin did run, is not sure she would vote for her.

"It's just to see someone like that in person, and we're in the middle of Iowa, you know?" she said.

Scott Christen, a 26-year-old from Columbia, Mo., also was persuaded to seek out Palin when he heard she might be at the fair, not for her political positions, but because he likes to collect autographs of famous people.

"I have more than 1,000," said Christen, who also had his photo snapped with the former Alaska governor. "She's right at the top of my political ones."

His collection includes Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, Christen said. Asked if he was seeking out any other autographs, Christen said he got the Oak Ridge Boys on Thursday night and was looking for other entertainers.

How about some of the other politicians here?

"I don't know," he said. "Not really."