The other starter anomaly

[Kneale Brownson]

Went to start the 200q20v sedan to drive across town because it's been sitting about a week in sub-zero temperatures.  No starting activities.  No clicks, nothing.  But the blower fan and dash lights all show (climate control on defrost).  So I turn the key again and wiggle a tad and get starter action.  Do my errands without shutting off the engine, but a do try the starter a couple times while moving (shut off ignition, wait a bit, try starter and then, before running out of motion, bump start), and no go.  I see by the meter the charging is at max until just before I pull back into the yard.  So I put the car on the hoist, hoping my problem is the little wire to the starter (been replaced before, but it's been several years) and, after shutdown, just for shucks, turn the key again.  Fires right up.  Try it several more times, and it starts OK.  So is it likely this was just a battery issue?  I have a charger on it now.