Picture of the Day: Sarah Palin Petting a Calf at the Iowa State Fair

Republican presidential candidates are in Iowa this weekend, shaking hands at the state fair ahead of Saturday's straw poll in Ames. On Friday, Sarah Palin joined them. No, Palin is not a candidate for president. She isn't asking for votes, and she won't have a booth at the vaunted straw poll. But her presence at the state fair will likely fuel more speculation that she's considering it, or at least keeping her options open.

As part of the state-fair routine, politicians showcase their rustic, down-home appeals by wearing weekend clothes, eating corn dogs and funnel cakes, and, in some cases, checking out the livestock on display. Though she's not a candidate, that's what Palin did on Friday. Wire photographers couldn't resist the scene.

Image credits: Reuters and AP