Story highlights Trump stoked speculation with an invite sent around late Monday

Palin has spoken highly of both Trump and his chief opponent, Ted Cruz

Ames, Iowa (CNN) Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump Tuesday at an Iowa campaign stop, delivering a raucous speech full of Palin-isms during her return to the presidential campaign trail.

"Looking around at all of you, you hard working Iowa families, you farm families and teachers and teamsters and cops and cooks, you rock and rollers and holy rollers!" Palin said. "You all make the world go around and now our cause is one."

The 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate said she was "proud to endorse" Trump.

The official endorsement will be followed by a joint appearance on Wednesday morning in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The backing could prove pivotal for Trump in Iowa, where he's deadlocked with Ted Cruz in a battle to win the February 1 caucuses traditionally dominated by conservative voters. Palin, a tea party favorite since 2008, has spoken warmly of Cruz in the past and her backing of Trump could blunt the Texas senator's momentum in the final weeks before voting.