THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

The concept of endorsements by well known and/or respected people was a way to boost electoral prospects in days gone by. With the advent of greater communications, including those who dig deep for dirt, this electoral ploy has lost its effectiveness. Still candidates seek out favorable endorsements because they don't yet hurt your chances, unless you pick a real turkey. With that in mind, let's look at the latest endorsement and potentially the next future one for The Vulgar Yam, Donald Trump.

For Donald Trump, was an endorsement from the daughter of a rugged, gun-toting Westerner the prelude to an appearance later today with another person who tries to sell a similar persona?

Trump, the national front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, for now has won the formal endorsement of the daughter of legendary actor John Wayne.

"We need someone like Mr. Trump with leadership qualities, someone with courage, someone that's strong, like John Wayne," Aissa Wayne said Monday, surround by cowboy hats, saddles, and clothing that her father used in his craft. "If John Wayne were around, he'd be standing right here instead of me."

The endorsement took place at a museum dedicated to Wayne in his birthplace of Winterset, Iowa, more than an hour drive away from a later event that Trump says will include a "big announcement" featuring “a very special guest in attendance.”

Asked by reporters in Iowa whether Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate, would be endorsing him at the rally in Ames, Trump offered neither a confirmation nor a denial: "That I won't say."

However, the billionaire competing with Senator Ted Cruz at the top of the polls in Iowa did say he's a "big fan" of Palin and that his event tonight would be "tremendous," without sharing any additional details.

"We'll talk about that later," he said. "I think everyone is going to be very impressed, and nobody knows who it is, and that's fine."

Unlike Michele Bachmann, The Vulgar Yam got the right John Wayne in the right town in Iowa. Still the public waits with bated breath to see if The Princess Dumbass of the Northewoods, Snowflake Snooki herself will be the next to embrace the Hair That Roared.