Sarah Palin's Endorsement Of Donald Trump A Boost As Iowa Vote Looms

AMES, Iowa: The endorsement of conservative Republican firebrand Sarah Palin in the increasingly intense 2016 presidential race is giving billionaire businessman Donald Trump a boost against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz less than two weeks before Iowa's kick-off caucuses.

"This is going to be so much fun," the 2008 vice presidential candidate told a Trump rally on  Tuesday

Trump and Cruz are battling for the lead in Iowa ahead of the February 1 caucuses there.

Palin endorsed Cruz in his 2012 Senate race and said as recently as last month that he and Trump were both in her top tier of candidates, making the endorsement a symbolic blow to Cruz.

Palin slammed President Barack Obama as the "capitulator in chief." Trump, she said, would "let our warriors do their job and go kick ISIS' ass!"

She also took aim at the Republican establishment for "attacking their own front-runner" and offered a challenge to those who have suggested that Trump, whose positions on issues like gun control and abortion rights have shifted over the years, isn't conservative enough.

Trump, in a statement, praised Palin as "a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for."

Palin will be joining Trump at two events Wednesday.

Palin was a virtual newcomer to the national political arena when 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain named her as his running mate. She has since risen to prominence as one of the most outspoken conservatives in the party.

Republican consultant Kevin Madden said Palin's support could help shield Trump from charges that his past positions make him too liberal to be the party's nominee.

But some rally-goers at Trump's event Tuesday evening said they weren't sure whether Palin's support would help Trump win over voters. Several referenced what they saw as her poor performance as a vice presidential candidate.

"I don't think she's really credible anymore," said Bruce Dodge, 66, a retiree.