None of that mattered to Diane Thilmont, a 71-year-old retiree from Miami wearing a rhinestone “Palin 2012” pin and a watch with Palin’s face on it, who said she believes “absolutely, without a doubt” that Palin will be a candidate…

“Sarah would not string all these supporters this far along,” Thilmont said.

Thilmont said Palin’s the only candidate she’s considered supporting, and hasn’t even looked at anyone else: “I know she’s going to [run] — she’s primed, she has the fire in the belly. For me, there is no alternative.”

For 20-year-old Stephanie Abbott, a Wisconsin college student, Palin has served as a role model since she was in high school, inspiring her to change her planned major to political science and run for student senate. “Like so many Palin supporters, I’ve really been waiting for that announcement,” she said. “I’ve got all my Sarah Palin 2012 gear already. I really need Sarah to tell me she’s running — I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t.”