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Hillary Clinton Kicks Off Book Signing Tour At Barnes & Noble In Union Square

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hundreds of people lined up to meet Hillary Rodham Clinton as she kicked off her book tour in Manhattan.

The potential 2016 presidential candidate's new memoir, "Hard Choices," hit bookshelves Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Hillary Clinton Book Signing

The line stretched around the corner outside the Barnes & Noble store in Union Square, where the former secretary of state held her first book signing.

"It's really about the hard choices everybody has to make in life, in particular the hard choices I made and am proud of making," Clinton recently told CNN.

Hundreds Line Up At Barnes & Noble In Union Square For Hillary Clinton's Book Signing

People waited for hours for a chance to shake Clinton's hand and say hello.

"I told her thank you for being such an incredible woman and being my role model," said Abby Meeks of Brooklyn, who slept on the sidewalk the night before the event. "She asked me where I was from and how I was liking living in New York. It was amazing."

The book deals primarily with Clinton's stint as secretary of state, but many in the crowd were looking for some hint she'll run for president in 2016. They were left disappointed for Clinton didn't mention her political future, and the 656-page book deals with 2016 on page 595. It's dismissed with a breezy "I havent decided yet," CBS 2's Marcia Kramer reported.

And she had the following to say in a televised interview timed to the publication date.

"This is really a personal decision," Clinton said.

Clinton's book does deal with some of the issues that could confront her if she runs again for the nation's top job, including the deadly terror attack at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. She pushed back against criticism that she missed warning signs of the danger," Kramer reported.

"I take responsibility, but I was not making security decisions. I think it would be a mistake for a secretary of state to sit and say, 'OK, let's got through all 275 posts and let me decide what should be done.' What I do not appreciate is politicizing this at the expense of four dead Americans," Clinton said.

But the throngs on hand Tuesday didn't care about things like that. They just wanted to see her and maybe be part of history in the making.

The 1,000 books set aside for the sold-out signing were snatched up by noon, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.

Hillary Clinton Holds Book Signing At Barnes & Noble In Union Square

The event had all the markings of a campaign stop, complete with a bus and stickers that read "Ready For Hillary,"  Diamond reported. A vendor also set up shop, selling T-shirts and tote bags with the message "Run Hillary Run," 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

Scott Fisher of Manhattan and other fans at the event were convinced Clinton will run in 2016.

"I think she's just waiting for the right time to announce and that's why we're all here, just to say 'yeah, do it. We support you,'" Fisher said.

Jeff Hart of Wayne, N.J. brought his entire family, including his wife, two young daughters and 11-year-old son. He told Kramer they got on line Monday at 2 p.m.

"It's an historical event, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the next president of the United States," Hart said.

"It's not about the book, everyone's here to say, 'We want you to run, so step up and come forward that you are,'" supporter Joan Van Nostrand added.

"I think we're ready for her, not just because she's a woman, but for her experience and everything she brings to the table," said Melanie Gretchen of Astoria.

"I feel like this is a historic moment being here to really show her that if she decides to run that she has supporters," said Clinton supporter Caitlin Nichols.

Although Clinton clearly doesn't need the money, she gets as much as $750,000 per speech, Kramer reported. The book is expected to make Clinton millions. It costs $35, but people at the book signing got a discount, dropping the price with tax to $26.67.

And like Cher, Madonna and Beyonce, Clinton has a one word signature. It's just "Hillary."

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