BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Hundreds of

fans rose before dawn Monday for the chance to meet the conservative star, who brought her book tour to Minnesota's

.

Die-hard supporters treated the event like another Black Friday, lining up outside in freezing weather before the mall doors opened at 5 a.m.

Emily Calhoon, a high school junior from Minnetonka, took the day off school with a group of fellow students and arrived at 4:45 a.m. Calhoon, 16, said she likes Palin's conservatism.

"She's a lot more relatable than the stereotypical old rich white male," said Calhoon as she waited in line, clutching a copy of Palin's memoir of her life and political career, "Going Rogue."

The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee arrived just before noon. Wearing her trademark red, she took the stage joined by her husband, Todd, and carrying their son Trig.

But, not everyone at the mall was a fan. Bloomington police said a local man threw a tomato at Palin from the second level of the rotunda at 2 p.m.. Police say the tomato missed Palin by about 10 feet, but hit two officers after striking the stage. The man was arrested on a gross misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault on a police officer and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.