And both of your comments illustrate why, although this is a big win for Trump, it’s a big loss for both Sarah Palin and Conservatism.
Palin’s brand is based on being a unifying force that can bring Conservatives to the polls. She’s now inserted herself into a very divisive and polarizing fight by choosing sides.
It damages her brand, because the significant number of Conservatives who support Cruz are now angry at her, and unlikely to forgive and forget. It diminishes her and her ability to influence other races down the road.
It hurts Conservatism because at some point there will be a nominee, and a need to bury hatchets and mend fences. Palin would have been important, instrumental even, in doing that. Both Cruz and Trump supporters will NEED to work together to beat the Democrat. Palin could have been a bridge between the two camps.
She should have refrained from making an endorsement until after the nominee was chosen. It would have been better for Conservatives, and better for her own political future.
I won’t get into the damage done by her daughter lighting into Cruz this afternoon.
TRUMP was undoubtedly in charge of the when and how of her endorsement, not her.
He is running things you know. He leads with Evangelicals and has room to command, in Iowa.
Bristol, to use an old-fashioned term, is a twerp; her statement is unlikely to have legs. Your analysis of Palin's and conservatism's loss is accurate, I fear.