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Donald Trump presidential bid gets Sarah Palin backing | Donald Trump presidential bid gets Sarah Palin backing |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Donald Trump's Republican presidential bid has received the backing of Sarah Palin, the populist ex-governor of Alaska who was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008. | |
Mrs Palin said she was "proud" to endorse the billionaire, in a statement released by his campaign team. | |
She and running mate John McCain were defeated by Barack Obama in 2008. | |
Despite retiring from politics in favour of a media career, she remains an influential conservative voice. | |
Ms Palin is expected to formally announce her endorsement when she joins Mr Trump on stage at rally in Iowa on Tuesday night. | |
The New York businessman, who leads the Republican race, said her backing was "coveted" and "influential". | The New York businessman, who leads the Republican race, said her backing was "coveted" and "influential". |
He said she was a "trusted conservative" with a "proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and [she] believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper". | He said she was a "trusted conservative" with a "proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and [she] believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper". |
Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington | Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington |
While the former Alaska governor's reputation has been diminished since the heady days of 2008 - thanks to her absence from public office and involvement in series of questionable reality television shows - she is still well liked by conservative Republicans and nearly universally known. | While the former Alaska governor's reputation has been diminished since the heady days of 2008 - thanks to her absence from public office and involvement in series of questionable reality television shows - she is still well liked by conservative Republicans and nearly universally known. |
Her backing could help insulate Mr Trump against charges that he's not a true believer in the cause due to his support for liberal political issues and candidates in the past. | Her backing could help insulate Mr Trump against charges that he's not a true believer in the cause due to his support for liberal political issues and candidates in the past. |
At the very least, she could add even more crowd-drawing power to a Trump campaign that already fills entire sports arenas. | At the very least, she could add even more crowd-drawing power to a Trump campaign that already fills entire sports arenas. |
Will Palin help Trump? | Will Palin help Trump? |
Mrs Palin was just two years into her Alaskan governorship when she was picked by John McCain to be his running mate. | |
The self-described "hockey mom" soon garnered huge crowds and massive media attention. | |
After the election in 2009, she resigned as Alaska governor and has since forged a lucrative career as a writer and political commentator. | |
Ahead of the announcement, Mrs Palin tweeted a link to an article by her daughter Bristol attacking Mr Trump's main rival for the key Iowa caucus, Ted Cruz. | |
Iowa is the first chance for voters to have their say in the nomination race. | |
Mr Cruz has himself praised Mrs Palin saying "without her support, I wouldn't be in the Senate" - a reference to her backing that helped him to his surprise victory in a 2012 Senate run-off election. | |
"Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan," he tweeted. |