As mentioned yesterday, the “2012 Draft Sarah Committee” held its first meeting in West Haven, Conn., last night. Committee chairman Paul Streitz took a few minutes to speak to NRO.

The committee had a booth at CPAC this year, and Streitz characterized the reception as “warm – hundreds of people came up, and only one said she wouldn’t be supporting Sarah. We added about 300 people to our e-mail list, and already have a couple college organizers.”

As a draft committee, the group is not permitted to have contact with Governor Palin. “Under FEC rules, we’re not allowed to coordinate our actions or take instructions. But they know we exist, and I assume they follow us and get our e-mails. We have a couple people from Alaska in our ranks.”

The organization’s aim is solely on the 2012 presidential race, and will not be focusing on Palin’s potential reelection bid in 2010. It is separate from SarahPAC, the governor’s national political action committee.

“Fundraising is less the purpose than organizing,” Streitz said. “We’re not out to raise millions for Sarah, we’re out to form grassroots operations, so that if she does run, she’ll have people interested in working with her.” He said that the group, through its web site, has already recruited 40 organizers and more than 100 volunteers.