Update: The Des Moines Register's editorial board endorsed U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Original story: With the nation's first nominating contest only about a week away, Pete Buttigieg and other Democratic presidential hopefuls are looking for any help they can get. That help could come Saturday in the form of an endorsement from the Des Moines Register.

The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor is one of 20 candidates who spent an hour meeting with the news organization's editorial board, which will announce its caucus endorsement at 7 p.m. EST Saturday.

Gerry Lanosga, an associate professor with The Media School at Indiana University, said he has seen conflicting evidence on the importance of newspaper endorsements in modern politics. However, he said Buttigieg receiving the endorsement could have a greater impact than for a candidate who already has held national office.

"I think the value for him in particular could be greater than for someone like (former Vice President Joe) Biden," Lanosga said.

The endorsement could have greater impact if it's seen as a surprise, he said.

"It would be slightly surprising, but it wouldn't be an 'OMG moment,' I don't think, to see the endorsement," Lanosga said. "But it might be a little bit surprising. I think it would be very newsy at that point."

How it works: Quick explanation of the Register's endorsement

The editorial board of the Des Moines Register, which like IndyStar is part of the USA TODAY Network, is separate from the news staff that covers the candidates. Its endorsement is not a prediction of who will win, nor part of a candidate's campaign.

Since 1988, the editorial board has endorsed 11 candidates before the state's caucuses. In election cycles like the current one in which the incumbent is running unopposed, the board gave only one endorsement.

Here's who the Des Moines Register's editorial board has endorsed before the Iowa caucuses and how those candidates performed in the caucuses and the following election:

2016

Republican endorsed: Marco Rubio

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 3rd — 23.1% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

***

Democrat endorsed: Hillary Clinton

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 1st — 49.9% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? Yes. Clinton lost the general election against Donald Trump.

2012

Republican endorsed: Mitt Romney

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 2nd — 24.5% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? Yes. Romney lost the general election against Barack Obama.

***

Democrat endorsed: None. Incumbent President Barack Obama ran unopposed.

2008

Republican endorsed: John McCain

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 4th — 13.1% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? Yes. McCain lost the general election against Barack Obama.

***

Democrat endorsed: Hillary Clinton

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 3rd — 29.5% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

2004

Republican endorsed: None. Incumbent President George W. Bush ran unopposed.

***

Democrat endorsed: John Edwards

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 2nd — 32.6% of the vote

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

2000

Republican endorsed: George W. Bush

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 1st — 41%

Did candidate win the party's nomination? Yes. Bush won the general election against Al Gore.

***

Democrat endorsed: Bill Bradley

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 2nd — 34.9%

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

1996

Republican endorsed: Bob Dole

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 1st — 26.3%

Did candidate win the party's nomination? Yes. Dole lost the general election against Bill Clinton.

***

Democrat endorsed: None. Incumbent President Bill Clinton ran unopposed.

1992

Republican endorsed: None. Incumbent President George H.W. Bush ran unopposed.

***

Democrat endorsed: None. Tom Harkin, a U.S. senator from Iowa, finished first in the caucuses with 76.5% of the vote.

1988

Republican endorsed: Bob Dole

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 1st — 37.4%

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

***

Democrat endorsed: Paul Simon

Candidate's finish in the caucuses: 2nd — 26.7%

Did candidate win the party's nomination? No

Call IndyStar digital producer Ethan May at 317-444-4682 or email him at emay@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @EthanMayJ.