Sarah Palin: Pre-Primary Endorsing Poetess or Post-Literate Endorseress?

Eric Thayer for The New York Times
Eric Thayer for The New York Times

The New York Times offers a tongue-in-cheek analysis of Sarah Palin’s Donald Trump endorsement speech delivered in her unique oratorical style in Ames, Iowa, yesterday.

In “The Most Mystifying Lines of Sarah Palin’s Endorsement Speech,” reporter Michael Barbaro attempts to parse the 10 most memorable lines from Palin’s address, which, he says, “has been described as performance art, a filibuster, even slam poetry.”

Here’s an example:

“He is from the private sector, not a politician. Can I get a ‘Hallelujah!’ ”

Mrs. Palin goes godly as she enthuses about the business world.

Sanders Wins Endorsement from MoveOn.org

340,665

Number of ballots cast in online balloting that ran from last Thursday through Sunday night to win the endorsement of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org, Politico reports. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders prevailed, “winning 78.6 percent of the vote out of 340,665 ballots cast — both records in terms of most votes cast and largest margin of victory. Just 14.6 percent voted for Hillary Clinton, and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley earned 0.9 percent, with 5.9 percent of ballots in favor of not endorsing a particular candidate this time.”

Cruz Now Leads in Iowa

24%

A new Monmouth University poll in Iowa finds Ted Cruz surging into the lead, followed by Donald Trump at 19%, Marco Rubio at 17%, Ben Carson at 13%, and Jeb Bush at 6%. Said pollster Patrick Murray: “This marks the first time Ted Cruz has held a lead in any of the crucial early states. As Ben Carson’s stock has fallen, Cruz has been able to corral most of those voters. Rep. Steve King’s endorsement may not be the primary reason for this swing, but it certainly put a stamp on the Cruz surge in Iowa.”

Warren Won’t Endorse Clinton

13

Women Democratic senators endorsed Hillary Clinton at a Capitol Hill fundraising event, the Washington Post reports. “But one particularly influential female Democratic senator didn’t join her colleagues: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) — the anti-Wall Street crusader who was courted to run as the darling of very liberal Democrats — has not endorsed Clinton, nor has she promised she will.”

Christie Receives Significant Endorsement

Gov. Christie is right for these dangerous times. He has prosecuted terrorists and dealt admirably with major disasters. But the one reason he may be best-suited to lead during these times is because he tells it like it is and isn’t shy about it.

— Fro the editorial endorsing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from New Hampshire’s Union Leader, traditionally the most respected newspaper voice in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

Gore Declines to Endorse Clinton

It’s still too early, in my opinion, to endorse a candidate or pick a candidate. Everybody can look at how the presidential campaign is developing and get some pretty clear ideas about how they think it’s going to turn out, but I still think it’s premature. The election is still a full year away. I think I’ll wait to wade into it.

— Al Gore “politely but firmly” declining when People asked him if he supports Hillary Clinton for the president in 2016.