By DI Staff
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With fewer than two weeks until the Iowa caucuses, Sarah Palin, a former Alaska governor and 2008 vice-presidential nominee, officially endorsed Donald Trump in Ames on Tuesday.
Trump made a campaign stop at Iowa State University, where he gave a traditional campaign speech, calling on a wall to be built along the U.S. and Mexico border and mentioning terrorism acts such as the attacks at San Bernardino in which 14 people were killed.
But that quickly changed when Trump introduced his “special guest,” Palin. Trump primed voters on Twitter for the news, promising a “big announcement.” He also noted on Facebook that he would have a “very special guest in attendance” at the event.
“No more pussy-footing around,” Palin said in Ames. “He’s going rogue left and right. That’s why he’s doing so well.”
The endorsement marks the most noteworthy show of support for any candidate in the Republican race thus far.
“I am greatly honored to receive Sarah’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 in a press release sent out prior to the Ames event.
In the release, Palin is described as “a trusted conservative” and “has a proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper.”
After joining Trump in Ames on Tuesday, Palin will travel with the campaign to an event on Wednesday in Norwalk, Iowa, as well as a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, later that day.
Currently, Trump is leading nationally. Trump is at 33 percent, according to the latest January NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz followed with 20 percent, with Rubio next with 13 percent.
With 400 Republican primary voters surveyed, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
After months of leading in Iowa, Trump has been head to head with Cruz. Trump is at 22 percent, according to a Jan. 13 Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics Poll. Cruz led the poll with 25 percent.
With 500 Republican likely caucus-goers surveyed, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.