If she wants to be competitive in Iowa I’d say she needs to announce by Labor Day so her ground team has time to organize. However, as much as we here in Iowa would like to think we’re important, we’re not. We only pick the GOP nominee about half the time.
Where she needs to come out strong is SC and FL. What the drop dead date in those states are I don’t know.
Organize what? A quilting bee? Square dances? Corn husking contests?
The Iowa caucus isn't under January. Nothing is going to be happening for the next three months. Palin could enter the race in November (as Reagan did) and within a week, she'd have raised more money than the other candidates combined and she'll sign up a million volunteers online over the first weekend.
This isn't 1971...with instant communication on Facebook, Twitter, etc., she can do a complete bypass of the national media. Besides, they follow her every move already anyhow.
And we already know Sarah isn't going to confuse Elvis Presley's deathday with his birthday! In fact, she can probably recite the verses to "Hound Dog" without having to Google the lyrics.