5 Goals for Sarah Palin's Book Tour

Sarah Palin's book is already a sensation, and she hasn't even appeared on Oprah's couch yet. No question it will sell, but what other purposes might it serve for the self-styled rogue Republican, Andy Barr wonders in Politico. Herewith, his benchmarks to measure the book tour and media frenzy:

• Build her base: Shunning the big cities, and even the early-primary states, Palin is heading straight for Palin Country—places like Fort Wayne, Ind., and Birmingham, Ala.—to reconnect with supporters and nurture their "their powerful emotional connection to her."

• Get even: The desire to settle scores with the McCain campaign seems to have trumped conventional wisdom that it's stupid to "bring yourself down to the level of staffers."
• Stiff the media: Other than Barbara Walters, the mainstream media won't be getting a piece of the action.
• Put the GOP on notice: Every mobbed Barnes & Noble talk will serve as a reminder that she can't be ignored—or controlled.
• Look serious: She'll be trying to undo the damage wrought by Katie Couric, her early retirement and her (speaking of out-of-control) daughter's boyfriend.

(More Sarah Palin stories.)