An endorsement with a wink.
The phrase Pro Deo et Patria comes to mind. It means, For God and Country. That is how our obligations should be ordered. Please notice the total lack of "payback to deeply entrenched political hacks" on that list.
So, what does Palin owe McCain, exactly?
What does it say about Palin if she sincerely endorses McCain ? And what does it say about Palin if she is insincere in her endorsement (in your words, "an endorsement with a wink")?
To agree with Palin's decision to campaign for, vouch for, and raise money for McCain, an honest person would agree that McCain is the best candidate. Only a dishonest person could endorse someone for expediency.
Which is it? Is she dishonest or is this bad judgment?
I don't live in Arizona, and don't know much about Hayworth.
What I do know is that John McCain has a long record of being an enemy of the First Amendment, has shown himself to be more than willing to curtail the personal freedoms of his fellow Americans, and evinces a perpetual ignorance of the free market and conservative values. Unless McCain is about to face the voters at election time, there isn't a proposed law or regulation he isn't in favor of.
I can't pretend to have insight into Palin's motivations, but would prefer to believe that she honestly thinks McCain is the best candidate. I can only say that either way, it isn't a good thing.
Hayworth is rock-ribbed, FRiend.