Palin: Trump's got the guts to take on GOP establishment
AMES, Ia. — Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump for president Tuesday night, giving a speech that eviscerated the GOP establishment and energized a crowd more than 1,000 here.
“(He is) the only one who’s been willing, who’s got the guts to wear the issues that need to be spoken about and debated on his sleeve,” Palin said of Trump, who is working to rally support from Iowa caucusgoers who head to precincts on Feb. 1. “Where the rest of some of these establishment candidates, they just wanted to duck and hide. They didn’t want to talk about these issues ‘til he brought ‘em up. In fact, they’ve been wearing this political correctness kind of like a suicide vest. And enough is enough.”
Palin has remained quietly off the political radar this caucus cycle after delivering a speech at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Summit in January.
The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and former governor of Alaska roared back into the spotlight Tuesday night, calling on Iowans to support Trump and put pressure on members of the political establishment. She spoke forcefully — often shouting — and drew cheers and applause throughout her speech.
“This is what we have to remember in this very contested, competitive, great primary race: Trump’s candidacy, it has exposed not just … the ramifications of that betrayal of the transformation of our country,” Palin said. “But two, he has exposed the complicity on both sides of the aisle that has enabled it.”
Many attendees said they liked Palin’s message and appreciated her enthusiasm. Some said it reaffirmed their support of Trump, while others said it didn't have a tangible effect on their decision.
“She sounded great,” said Sharon Gilbert, a 45-year-old stay-at-home mom from Ames. “I liked the things she said about how he’s not an elitist or that he’s not part of the establishment."
Gilbert said she is a firm supporter of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Trump’s primary rival in Iowa polls. She said her opinion of Trump improved after hearing Palin speak, but not enough to sway her vote.
Palin previously endorsed U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is well-regarded among Iowa Republicans.
Jeff Ortiz, co-chair of the Story County GOP and a 59-year-old Ames resident, said he thinks Palin's endorsement of Trump will be well received by Iowa Republicans.
He said he doesn’t think the endorsement will lead many voters to switch their allegiance from another candidate to Trump. But for those who are still sitting on the fence, Ortiz said it could help them make up their minds.
Trump stopped in Ames Tuesday evening after attending the Iowa Renewable Fuel Summit in Altoona, where he reiterated his support for renewable fuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard.
He also picked up another endorsement earlier in the morning after stopping at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset. Aissa Wayne, daughter of Iowan and movie star John Wayne, spoke in support of Trump.
“The reason that I’m here to support Mr. Trump is because America needs help, and we need a strong leader,” Wayne said. “And I’ll tell you what, if John Wayne were around he’d be standing right here instead of me.”
At the events
SETTING: Trump spoke inside the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, at the Prairie Meadows event center in Altoona, and at the Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center at Iowa State University in Ames.
CROWD: About 200 people gathered in Winterset, several hundred were in Altoona and a couple thousand attended the event in Ames.
REACTION: The biggest cheers of the day came when Trump introduced Sarah Palin in Ames.
WHAT’S NEXT: Trump will speak in Norwalk Wednesday morning. Check DesMoinesRegister.com/candidatetracker for more details.
