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| Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump for Republican presidential nomination | Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump for Republican presidential nomination |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump on Tuesday, becoming the first current or former statewide elected official in the US to back the real estate mogul for the White House. | Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump on Tuesday, becoming the first current or former statewide elected official in the US to back the real estate mogul for the White House. |
| In a statement, Trump said he was “greatly honored” to receive the former governor of Alaska’s endorsement. | In a statement, Trump said he was “greatly honored” to receive the former governor of Alaska’s endorsement. |
| “She is a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for. I am proud to have her support,” Trump said. The Republican presidential candidate also described her endorsement “as amongst the most sought after and influential amongst Republicans”. | “She is a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for. I am proud to have her support,” Trump said. The Republican presidential candidate also described her endorsement “as amongst the most sought after and influential amongst Republicans”. |
| But the importance of the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee’s endorsement, first reported by the New York Times, lies far more in her celebrity than in the elected office she once held. | But the importance of the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee’s endorsement, first reported by the New York Times, lies far more in her celebrity than in the elected office she once held. |
| Related: Trump says 'we're in medieval times' as Clinton attacks Sanders on Iran – live updates | Related: Trump says 'we're in medieval times' as Clinton attacks Sanders on Iran – live updates |
| Palin’s emergence at the junction of politics, celebrity and conservative populism prefigured the rise of Trump. As John McCain’s vice-presidential nominee in 2008, Palin become a political superstar almost overnight. Her populist, folksy rhetoric made her beloved on the right while her lack of policy knowledge appalled many inside the Beltway. | Palin’s emergence at the junction of politics, celebrity and conservative populism prefigured the rise of Trump. As John McCain’s vice-presidential nominee in 2008, Palin become a political superstar almost overnight. Her populist, folksy rhetoric made her beloved on the right while her lack of policy knowledge appalled many inside the Beltway. |
| After McCain’s loss, Palin, who memorably went “rogue” by the end of the general election, soon resigned her position as governor and launched herself into media celebrity. She booked a well-paying gig as a Fox News pundit, wrote two bestselling books and starred in her own reality show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, on TLC. | After McCain’s loss, Palin, who memorably went “rogue” by the end of the general election, soon resigned her position as governor and launched herself into media celebrity. She booked a well-paying gig as a Fox News pundit, wrote two bestselling books and starred in her own reality show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, on TLC. |
| Palin will officially announce her endorsement of the Republican frontrunner in a much ballyhooed event taking place in a heated barn on the Iowa State University campus. | Palin will officially announce her endorsement of the Republican frontrunner in a much ballyhooed event taking place in a heated barn on the Iowa State University campus. |
| An eclectic crowd, including many younger people, lined up for hours on a cold and snowy Iowa day for the chance to file their way into the building, which had its dirt floor partially covered and signs warning attendees that “you are assuming the inherent risk of participating in this domesticated animal activity”. | An eclectic crowd, including many younger people, lined up for hours on a cold and snowy Iowa day for the chance to file their way into the building, which had its dirt floor partially covered and signs warning attendees that “you are assuming the inherent risk of participating in this domesticated animal activity”. |
| Palin’s relationship with Trump goes back to 2011 when the two shared a slice of pizza at a Times Square pizzeria. Both were then publicly flirting with a presidential bid but neither Palin nor Trump eventually threw their hat in the ring. | Palin’s relationship with Trump goes back to 2011 when the two shared a slice of pizza at a Times Square pizzeria. Both were then publicly flirting with a presidential bid but neither Palin nor Trump eventually threw their hat in the ring. |
| Trump has since often praised Palin in public, and in July he suggested she would have a role in a potential Trump administration, telling an interviewer: “She really is somebody who knows what’s happening and she’s a special person. She’s really a special person and I think people know that.” | Trump has since often praised Palin in public, and in July he suggested she would have a role in a potential Trump administration, telling an interviewer: “She really is somebody who knows what’s happening and she’s a special person. She’s really a special person and I think people know that.” |
| Palin has a long track record of endorsing in Republican primaries. In 2012, her support proved crucial for Ted Cruz in a surprise victory in his Senate primary. Cruz later said her endorsement had been “a game-changer” and was “key” to his victory. Palin previously helped a number of longshot Republican candidates win Senate primaries in 2010. Her endorsement of attorney Joe Miller in the 2010 GOP primary for Senate in her native Alaska helped Miller topple incumbent Lisa Murkowski in that race. (However, Murkowski eventually won re-election as a write-in candidate in the general election.) | Palin has a long track record of endorsing in Republican primaries. In 2012, her support proved crucial for Ted Cruz in a surprise victory in his Senate primary. Cruz later said her endorsement had been “a game-changer” and was “key” to his victory. Palin previously helped a number of longshot Republican candidates win Senate primaries in 2010. Her endorsement of attorney Joe Miller in the 2010 GOP primary for Senate in her native Alaska helped Miller topple incumbent Lisa Murkowski in that race. (However, Murkowski eventually won re-election as a write-in candidate in the general election.) |
| Palin also helped longtime Republican activist Christine O’Donnell beat incumbent congressman Mike Castle in a Senate primary in Delaware that year. | Palin also helped longtime Republican activist Christine O’Donnell beat incumbent congressman Mike Castle in a Senate primary in Delaware that year. |
| Related: Any other year, Sarah Palin's nod would hurt Trump. But 2016 isn't right | Megan Carpentier | |
| It is unclear, though, whether Palin’s endorsement will carry much weight in the Iowa caucuses. In many ways she has become a political has-been. In her last major political appearance in the state, in January last year, Palin gave a rambling, disjointed address to a presidential cattle call organized by Iowa congressman Steve King. | It is unclear, though, whether Palin’s endorsement will carry much weight in the Iowa caucuses. In many ways she has become a political has-been. In her last major political appearance in the state, in January last year, Palin gave a rambling, disjointed address to a presidential cattle call organized by Iowa congressman Steve King. |
| But Palin still attracts ardent support among many conservatives. A 2014 poll of Iowa found that she was viewed favorably by 82% of Iowa voters who described themselves as “very conservative”. | But Palin still attracts ardent support among many conservatives. A 2014 poll of Iowa found that she was viewed favorably by 82% of Iowa voters who described themselves as “very conservative”. |
| Republican consultant Rick Wilson, a frequent Trump skeptic, said that her endorsement would be meaningless and that it was already “baked in the cake”. But regardless of its political effect, the media sensation surrounding her endorsement is likely to keep Trump dominating the airwaves for days to come. | Republican consultant Rick Wilson, a frequent Trump skeptic, said that her endorsement would be meaningless and that it was already “baked in the cake”. But regardless of its political effect, the media sensation surrounding her endorsement is likely to keep Trump dominating the airwaves for days to come. |
| On Twitter, Trump’s rival for the nomination Ted Cruz wrote: “I love @SarahPalinUSA Without her support, I wouldn’t be in the Senate. Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan.” | On Twitter, Trump’s rival for the nomination Ted Cruz wrote: “I love @SarahPalinUSA Without her support, I wouldn’t be in the Senate. Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan.” |
| But a spokesman for Cruz took a more aggressive line on Monday night, saying the endorsement would “be a blow to Sarah Palin because Sarah Palin has been a champion for the conservative cause, and if she was going to endorse Donald Trump, sadly, she would be endorsing someone who’s held progressive views all their life on the sanctity of life, on marriage, on partial-birth abortion”. | But a spokesman for Cruz took a more aggressive line on Monday night, saying the endorsement would “be a blow to Sarah Palin because Sarah Palin has been a champion for the conservative cause, and if she was going to endorse Donald Trump, sadly, she would be endorsing someone who’s held progressive views all their life on the sanctity of life, on marriage, on partial-birth abortion”. |