Why the ping?
I think there is a very good chance that Palin is planning a quite effective way to mobilize the conservative Christian vote in Iowa. That's a good thing in my opinion and I think it deserves attention... even if it's totally unplanned, doing this in Pella was a **REALLY** good idea.
To put it mildly, the Dutch talk to each other and make decisions based on personal recommendations. Convincing a couple of hundred Hollanders in Pella to become strong Palin supporters will pay off **BIG TIME** — not only in Pella but also in Northwest Iowa, in West Michigan, and numerous other places where the Dutch are a significant part of the Christian conservative segment of the Republican Party.
Since Bachmann, Cain and Palin are all trying to present themselves as the social issues conservative candidate, getting strong support early on from the conservative Christian community is critical. It's especially important in Iowa, and getting Dutch Reformed support for a social issues candidate in the Iowa Republican caucuses is just as important as getting Southern Baptist support in Alabama or Georgia.
Thanks for the very interesting explanation. Hopefully we will soon learn what Governor Palin is really up to. She is fascinating.