Palin endorses Perry--oddly enough

In a very strange move, Gov. Sarah Palin has endorsed Rick Perry for re-election.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-perrypalin_03tex.ART.State.Edition1.4c4134a.html

The report from the Dallas Morning News says that Palin calls Perry the "true conservative" in the race, without mentioning Kay Bailey Hutchison by name. An endorsement letter from Palin was distributed to 10,500 members of the Texas Federation of Republican Women by the Perry campaign. The DMN article describes the organization as an influential one "whose members have been an important part of Hutchison's political base."

Can the Palin endorsement at this point in the campaign weaken Hutchison's support from Texas Republican women?

"Hutchison spokesman Todd Olsen said the senator has broad support among Texas Republicans 'who know what is going on in Texas,' adding: "We look forward to having the [Alaska] governor's support after the primary.'"

"Taffy Goldsmith of Dallas, a past president of the Texas federation and a Hutchison supporter, said Monday that she doesn't think the endorsement will have much effect. 'But women in this organization are so state-oriented and so well-grounded they will base their decisions on what they know, not what somebody else recommends.'"

In the Pink thinks: "Score one for Rick Perry. The governor's been endorsed by Sarah Palin. Score one for Kay Bailey Hutchison. The governor's been endorsed by Sarah Palin."

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/inthepink/