Hillary Clinton’s first book signing draws long lines in New York

‎The line began forming in Union Square barely after sunrise. Two hours later it snaked for nearly three city blocks, circling the Barnes & Noble bookstore where Hillary Rodham Clinton was holding her first signing event for her just-released book, “Hard Choices. “

‎The former Secretary of State and one-time presidential contender hasn’t said whether she will be running again in 2016, but a sign of the potential came in a luxury bus painted in patriotic colors of red, white and blue and plastered with the slogans “Join the Movement” and “Ready for Hillary,” the work of an independent “super PAC.”

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FOR THE RECORD

An earlier version of this post said Lauren Myers graduated from college in 2009; she graduated from high school that year.

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And if the crowd that waited patiently to be admitted to the bookstore in groups of 20 at a time was any indication, she has some devoted supporters.

“She’s such an inspiration,” said Lauren Myers, who comes from a small town in Michigan. Myers, who graduated from high school in 2009, still remembers the day back then when she saw Clinton speaking on television about foreign affairs. For Myers, it was an epiphany.

“I’m embarrassed to say it, but I think that was the first time I’d seen a woman who was a world leader speaking like that, on such important issues,” said Myers, who now lives in New Jersey.

Most of those lined up for the beginning of Clinton’s coast-to-coast book tour were women, and many said it was about time the country had a female president.

“The fact this country has gone this long without having a woman to represent a country where the majority of people are women is pretty incredible,” said Alexandra Grobman, who graduated from an all-women’s college, Sweet Briar, in 2012. Clinton represents the leadership qualities her school instilled in its female students, said Grobman.

Security was tight at the East 17th Street Barnes & Noble. Patrons first registered, paid for the book and received an orange wristband. They then waited in line again to see Clinton upstairs.

Near the head of the line, Chandila Fernando, a visitor from England, was picking up a book as a gift for his father back home in the UK.

But he said he is also a huge fan of Clinton and believes much of England feels the same way.

“There’s something about the Clinton name for people in England, it’s like a dynasty,” said Fernando.

Fernando said he had seen Clinton speak at an event in Los Angeles a couple of years ago. “It’s clear she has an incredible amount of drive,” said Fernando, who is convinced Clinton will make a second run for the presidency. “Well, just look at the bus,” he said with a laugh, pointing at it across the street.