It had been rumored for a while and then announced this afternoon, as The Stream’s Al Perrotta reported earlier: Former Republican vice-presidential candidate and political celebrity Sarah Palin has endorsed Donald Trump for president. Now the question is, will it actually help Trump and, if so, how much?

The woman described by an Iowa radio host as “a rock star to the conservative grass roots” with a unique combination of “chutzpah and charisma” spoke at a rally in Ames, Iowa today with Trump standing next to her wearing what The New York Times called “a satisfied smile.”

“I’m here to support the next president of the United States — Donald J. Trump,” she said to the crowd. After the cheers, she pointed to the press box and said, “Heads are spinning. Media heads are spinning. This is going to be so much fun.”

“When I heard she was going to endorse me, I was so honored, you have no idea. I was so honored,” said Trump after her speech.

After an aide pointed out on CNN that Palin would be endorsing someone with progressive views on abortion, marriage, and the TARP bailout, Palin responded by tweeting an angry blog by her daughter Bristol. Cruz then said tactfully, “Regardless of what Sarah decides to do in 2016, I will always remain a big, big fan.”

Several newspapers covering the story speculated that her endorsement would give Trump the edge over Sen. Ted Cruz, his chief rival, in the Iowa caucus on February 1. For instance, political writer Philip Bump wrote in The Washington Post that she remains popular among Republicans (61%) and very popular with what he called “the far right.”

The political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, Craig Robinson, also thought it would help. “Over the years Palin has actually cultivated a number of relationships in Iowa,” said Robinson, quoted by the Times. “There are the Tea Party activists who still think she’s great and a breath of fresh air, but she also did a good job of courting Republican donors in the state.”

On the other hand, in 2012, 61% of Iowa Republicans said her endorsement wouldn’t make any difference to them. And political analyst Ben Brody, writing for Bloomberg, noted that only a little over half of the candidates she endorsed in 2010 and 2012 were elected, and less than half in 2014. In Iowa in 2014, 56% of likely voters said her endorsement of Joni Ernst for the Senate would do “more to hurt” her chances.

Other conservatives were critical of the decision. Independent Review writer Sarah Rumpf, for example, said that Palin “put her support behind someone who cannot be trusted to protect the unborn, who has twice traded in his wives for younger models (literally), who claims to be for the ‘little guy’ but who has been all too willing to use government as a hired thug to line his own pocket, and who spent years making significant donations to Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.”

The Republican establishment was a major theme of Palin’s 20-minute speech, though she did not name any names. “With their failed agenda, it can be salvaged; it must be salvaged,” she said.

Palin also stressed Trump’s aggressive views on foreign policy. “It is now or never,” she said, calling Trump “a commander-in-chief who loves our country passionately, who will never apologize for this country, a new commander-in-chief who will never leave anyone behind.” Later she promised that Trump would “let our warriors do their job and go kick ISIS’ ***!”

His wealth was an advantage as well, she suggested. “He is beholden to no one but we the people — how refreshing!” she said. “He’s perfectly positioned to let you make America great again. Are you ready for that, Iowa? No more pussy-footing around.”

Evangelical insider Ralph Reed said, “Palin’s brand among evangelicals is as gold as the faucets in Trump tower,” reported The New York Times. “Endorsements alone don’t guarantee victory, but Palin’s embrace of Trump may turn the fight over the evangelical vote into a war for the soul of the party.”

Asked what effect Palin’s endorsement would have, her former running mate Sen. John McCain just said, “I don’t know.”

Her support for Trump was already well known. Writing last year on Facebook, ABC News reported, she called him a “hero” and said, “Trump is the candidate giving voice to untold millions of fed-up Americans witnessing a purposeful destruction of our economy and the equal opportunity for success that made America exceptional.”

Trump reportedly has said he would like to have her in his cabinet. Asked by CNN in September what role she would like in a Trump administration, Palin said Secretary of Energy, “because energy is my baby,” though she also said she’d close down the department quickly. “I would get rid of it and I would let the states start having more control over the lands that are within their boundaries and the people who are affected by the developments within their space.”