AMES, IOWA — Former vice presidential candidate and Tea Party firebrand Sarah Palin has endorsed Republican presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump ahead of the Iowa caucus to be held on February 1. <br /> <br />The endorsement comes at a crucial time for Trump and could help shore up his credentials among the Republican Party's anti-establishment wing. <br /> <br />It's easy to dismiss this endorsement as one GOP crazy backing another. To the casual observer, Trump and Palin share an affinity for the type of populist, anti-intellectual rhetoric that makes it seem as though they have minds run by hamster wheels. <br /> <br />But Palin in fact leads a Tea Party faithful that can be instrumental in helping insurgent candidates win primaries. <br /> <br />In 2012, she endorsed Ted Cruz over the GOP's establishment candidate, then lieutenant governor David Dewhurst. Cruz defeated Dewhurst by a 14-point margin in the primary and went on to win his Senate seat. That's why Palin's endorsement of Trump stings for Cruz. <br /> <br />Palin's endorsement can also help mute a line of attack from Cruz and other Republicans that Trump isn't a real conservative. The businessman in the past has supported Hillary Clinton and democratic positions. Backing from the Tea Party firebrand helps puts lipstick on this Republican In Name Only. <br /> <br />Will Palin's endorsement give Trump the edge he needs in Iowa? <br /> <br />------------------------------------------------------------- <br /> <br />Covering the biggest stories in current affairs, world news, sports, entertainment, and technology, the creators from Next Animation Studio deliver world famous news animations to a global audience. News doesn’t have to be boring. <br /> <br />Can't get enough of these animations? <br />Watch more: http://us.tomonews.net <br />Like: http://www.facebook.com/tomonewsus <br />Follow: @TomoAnimators http://www.twitter.com/TomoAnimators <br />Subscribe to our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/0kOuz
