UPDATE - Is this official? You betcha, according to the New York Times:
Breaking News: Sarah Palin has endorsed Donald Trump in the GOP primary, helping him appeal to Tea Party loyalists
https://t.co/j6RImSsvyL
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 19, 2016
and away we go...
I'll admit it -- when this speculation began mounting yesterday, I wasn't remotely sold on the idea that Palin was poised jump aboard the Trump Train when so many influential figures within the conservative talk radio constellation are at long last blasting The Donald and rallying to Cruz. The Palin speculation seemed even less plausible when this rumor leaked:
Multiple little birdies tell me Jerry Falwell, Jr. is going to endorse Trump for president and come to Iowa with him tomorrow.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) January 18, 2016
Falwell bestowed a fulsome introduction upon Donald "Two Corinthians" Trump just yesterday -- much to the dismay of many in the evangelical community -- so Deace's report made sense. Surely that's the big announcement and "special guest" Trump's been pumping on social media, right? Not so fast, my friends:
Wow. Palin's jet following Trump campaign; endorsement imminent. Broken via flight records: https://t.co/BALN6KGFSE https://t.co/Z4rFX0mirY
— Matt Popovich (@mpopv) January 19, 2016
Interesting. But so what if there's a private jet bound from Anchorage to Iowa? That could be a coincidence. Or...uh, maybe not:
@LPDonovan did you see it went to Tulsa next
https://t.co/T3c292TN11
https://t.co/s6q4PMgPSG
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) January 19, 2016
Oh my. The jet is headed to
Buckle up, amigos. If you need me, I'll be passed out under my desk:
Gonna watch the Trump/Palin rally with the largest bottle of bourbon I can find.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 19, 2016
UPDATE - The Washington Post wonders if the Iowa leg is merely a coincidental refueling stop for an unrelated flight. But that would be out of the way, geographically. The Palin buzz continues to grow, to the point of rival campaigns doing preemptive damage control:
Cruz spokesman: "Deeply" disappointing if Palin endorses Trump https://t.co/Iofd2LoB1u pic.twitter.com/H1floEjZqA
— The Hill (@thehill) January 19, 2016