Palin did not play coy in her strong support for Newt Gingrich, she was very clear, and even had Todd do a formal endorsement as she did repeated mini-endorsements at opportune times to maximize the effect for Gingrich. None of us were in doubt of who Palin supported in the primary.Do you know a date when this "strong support for Newt" became public. My memory of it was long after Florida, ie way, way too late.
But I could be wrong. Please correct me if I am.
Here is one of those nursing the moment, stretching out the endorsement/endorsements.
Los Angeles Times
Sarah Palin: If I were in South Carolina, I’d vote for Newt Gingrich
January 18, 2012|By Michael A. Memoli
Sarah Palin is interviewed on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity”… (FoxNews.com )
Sarah Palin came as close as she’s come to a full-out endorsement, saying Tuesday that she’d vote for Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary in order “to keep this thing going.” (see video below)
The former Alaska governor’s latest wink and nod at the former House speaker comes just weeks after her husband, former “First Dude” Todd Palin, gave his more explicit support.
Palin told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity Tuesday that Gingrich won the Monday debate.
“Newt came out just like South Carolina’s own Smokin’ Joe Frazier. He came out there swinging’, talking about work, talking about jobs and work ethic, and how government needs to get out of the way in order for all Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work. And I think that’s what a lot of voters have been craving to hear,” she said.
Palin said she was happy to see the remaining GOP candidates continue to mix it up in the televised forums. “Because iron sharpens iron. Steel sharpens steel. These guys are getting better in their debates. They’re getting more concise. They’re getting more grounded in what their beliefs are and articulating what their ideas are to get the country back on the right track.”
She praised all of the candidates’ performances Monday save two — Ron Paul and, notably, Mitt Romney.
When asked if she was ready to make a public endorsement, Palin said she would only say what she would do if she were a South Carolina voter.
“I’d vote for Newt and I would want this to continue. More debates. More vetting of candidates. Because we know the mistake made in our country four years ago was having a candidate that was not vetted to the degree that he should have been,” she said.