What the Palin endorsement means for Trump

Just when you think all the political surprises of 2016 have happened 'BOOM!” you get hit with a double whammy.

Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump! Wow! What does that mean?

I think I understand. In Iowa the GOP candidates are fishing for very conservative caucus voters. That means getting endorsements from certified conservative leaders could make a big difference.

Rafael 'Ted” Cruz got the golden ring from Forth District congressman Steve King and Christian Conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats. Those were two valuable blessings and his poll numbers shot up to first or second place in Iowa.

Donald Trump's conservative credentials have been questioned by some Republicans especially Ted Cruz who most recently said Trump has New York values and thus can't be conservative. So I'm guessing trump sat around a beautiful and HUGE wood conference table and asked his best advisers 'How do we change the discussion? Who's the biggest and most conservative Republican in the world?”

The answer was easy. Sarah Palin!

Her endorsement makes King and Vander Plaats look downright wimpy.

Palin is the hot sauce to any conservative dish and Trump just got it piled on his dish.

Let me add that the announcement of Palin's endorsement sucked all the political oxygen out of the media in that crucial evening news cycle. The timing of the rollout in the middle afternoon was no coincidence!

That's not all!

Six-term Governor Terry Branstad announced that he felt Iowa Republicans should not vote for Cruz in the Caucuses. Cruz 'hasn't supported renewable fuels, and I think it would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him.” He was asked if he would want to see Cruz defeated. He said 'yes.”

Branstad had abstained from favoring anyone for all these months. This new position is so powerful that I think in Iowa it's even more devastating for Cruz who has been the front-runner. Typically Cruz he told Politico, 'We will see, like ‘The Empire Strikes Back,' the establishment will strike back because they don't want an end to cronyism and the gravy train from Washington.” Is that a good idea to trash Iowa's most enduring leader? No.

In fact it is an astonishing thing for a governor to target a single candidate for 'political execution” as my focus group called it.

One question is whether Palin may scare off independent (no party) voters in the general election. My focus group and I think that she will be heavy artillery for Trump in the most conservative southern and Midwest states where McCain and Palin won in 2008.

I believe that Trump will then ask Palin to drop to the background once he gets the nomination and he will offer her a position as an adviser in his administration.

Then as he campaigns in the general election he will move to the center and moderate his rhetoric.

We need to remember that most voters remember almost nothing from the primary season much to the relief of both the Democrat and the Republican who finally get the nomination.

Why are the ok with caucus and primary amnesia?

Because in the general election a significant percentage of voters self-identify as no party and they can be very important in the final run to the White House.

I've said it and all of you who have e-mailed me agreed. This is the most unusual and exciting caucus and primary season in at least 50 years.

Oh, by the way. When you play with a Palin you play with fire. Here is the latest breaking news.

Sarah Palin's son, 'Track Palin, 26, was charged … with assault in the fourth degree (domestic violence), interfering with a report of domestic violence, and possession of a weapon while intoxicated. In a news release, Wasilla [Alaska] Police say they responded to a disturbance at around 10 p.m. last night, and that, 'an investigation revealed Track Palin had committed a domestic violence assault on a female, interfered with her ability to report a crime of domestic violence, and possessed a firearm while intoxicated.” All three charges are misdemeanors.” Gawker reported.

Stay tuned. This is a year like no other.

' Steffen Schmidt is a professor of political science at Iowa State University. Comments: Steffenschmidt2005@gmail.com