Trump receives key endorsement from Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice-presidential nominee who became a Tea Party sensation and a favorite of grass-roots conservatives, will endorse Donald J. Trump in Iowa on Tuesday, officials with his campaign confirmed.

In the statement, Trump said he is “greatly honored” to receive Palin’s backing. “I am proud to have her support”, Trump said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

McCain and Palin lost the 2008 election to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but by then Palin’s transformation from a little-known politician to national celebrity was complete. Tyler argued that a Trump endorsement is inconsistent with Palin’s conservatism.

The endorsement from the younger Palin comes after Rick Tyler, spokesman for Ted Cruz’s campaign, said endorsing Trump would be “a blow” to the former vice presidential candidate.

Still, he added, “Sarah Palin can’t save Donald Trump from being insane”, referring to some of Trump’s proclamations, such as a plan to ban Muslims from entering the country, which Graham said made Trump unelectable.

Donald Trump said Tuesday that federal regulators should increase the amount of ethanol blended into the nation’s gasoline supply.

He sought to out a fearless face on the high-profile endorsement of his arch-rival for the Republican presidential nomination.

Her Trump nod is seen as a snub to conservative Senator Ted Cruz, who is neck and neck with Mr Trump in Iowa and running second to him nationally. “You’ve been a great advocate for conservative causes, and she’s stood by you when others haven’t”.

I was told, you know warned left and right, “You’re going to get so clobbered in the press, you are just going to get beat up, chewed up, spit out”, and you know I’m thinking, “Aaaand?”

But some rally-goers at Trump’s event Tuesday evening said they weren’t sure whether Palin’s support would help Trump. Several referenced what they saw as her poor performance as a vice presidential candidate.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a detriment, but I don’t think it’s going to be a huge asset”, said Stephen Freese, 56, of Burlington, Iowa, who works in construction. Palin told a crowd in Ames, standing beside Trump.

Palin’s endorsement was first reported by The New York Times. While campaigning at Iowa’s John Wayne Birthplace Museum, he received an endorsement from the western film actor’s daughter, Aissa Wayne.

“America needs help and we need a strong leader and we need someone like Mr. Trump with leadership qualities, someone with courage, someone that’s strong, like John Wayne”, she said.