‘She represents something very powerful. It’s deeper than politics…’

“It’s cultural. It’s just this zeitgeist of raw emotion, kind of what our country is all about.”

Of course, other national politicians attract passionate support, but with Palin’s biggest fans, the devotion to the former Alaska governor resides on a deeply personal level that seems unique in American life.

“She’s our family, and you protect your family; it’s like the mafia,” Coulter says. “She’s just one of us, and when they insult her, they’re insulting millions of us.” (…)

Echoing some of DuJan’s experiences as a vocal champion of Sarah Palin in one of America’s most progressive, gay-friendly neighborhoods, Ross says she feels added pressure as a Palin supporter who happens to be African-American. But she is undeterred by other people’s judgments.

“She is a big part of my life,” Ross says. “I spend a lot of my time on Palin-centered things.”