Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump for president

She also poked fun at President Barack Obama, borrowing from her 2008 speeches while running for vice president on a ticket with Sen. Trump, in turn, called Palin “a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for”.

“I am greatly honored to receive Sarah’s endorsement”.

Palin’s support could potentially stall any momentum Cruz has among evangelical voters in Iowa with the caucuses less than two weeks away.

“No more pussy-footing around”, Palin said, adding that Trump would allow the military do its job and destroy the Islamic State group.

A spokesman for the senator and presidential candidate said Monday the campaign would be “deeply disappointed” if Palin endorses Trump. Ted Cruz of Texas in most polls of Iowa voters, but it’s close. “I love Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin is fantastic, without her friendship and support I wouldn’t be in the Senate today”, he said.

When Palin took the stage, she poked at the media in attendance, telling Trump: “You’re right, look back there in the press box, heads are spinning, media heads are spinning”.

She was folksy, and liked to suggest there were no fiercer fighters for conservative values than a small-town “hockey mom”.

To be clear, neither Palin nor Trump has confirmed the rumor, which was so pervasive that Twitter users were on Tuesday scouring flight information between Palin’s home state of Alaska and the key primary battleground of Iowa. She has since risen to prominence as one of the most outspoken conservatives in the party. “Our troops deserve the best, we deserve the best”, she said.

Mrs Palin controversially resigned the governorship of Alaska in 2009, but has remained tangentially involved in politics through speaking engagements and endorsements like this one.

“I think you’ll be impressed with the endorsement we get later on”, he said, referring to a “tremendous” campaign event.

There is little question Palin’s backing will boost Trump’s support among conservative evangelicals, a demographic that his chief rival, Texas Sen. Several referenced what they saw as her poor performance as a vice presidential candidate.

She made her case by drawing searing contrasts with the Obama administration, saying Americans would find in Trump “a new commander in chief who will never leave our men behind… who will never lie to the families of the fallen”, compared to “a weak-kneed capitulator in chief [who] has decided that America will lead from behind”.

“Frankly, if (Palin) were going to endorse Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz would be chirping this from the rooftops, as well he should”, Lord said. 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.