(Image source: Palm Beach Post)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

Former GOP frontrunner Herman Cain surprised guests at a Republican dinner in West Palm Beach Saturday night. The one-time Godfather’s Pizza CEO took the stage to make an announcement. Here’s WPBF.

Herman Cain: “I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States!”

Cain had previously only given his endorsement to -quote “the American people.” The LA Times reports, judging by the crowd’s reaction, Cain’s endorsement could give Gingrich a boost.

“The dinner attendees, who were scheduled to see Gingrich speak but did not receive word Cain would be at the event, rose to their feet and roared when he entered the ballroom, delivering sustained applause.”

But on Sunday morning -- a different story. A political analyst tells CNN, the endorsement would have helped Gingrich a lot more if it had come a week ago.

Patricia Murphy: “About half a million Floridians have already requested their early and absentee ballots, and half of those people have already voted. So if they were going to be influenced by Herman Cain, it’s too late for them.”

And Politico points out, while Cain was a Tea Party darling in his heyday, his fans may have all moved on by now.

“How sizable Cain’s following is now -- after a fairly ignominious withdrawal from the campaign -- is another question. Many of Cain's voters may already have settled on an alternative candidate without the former pizza executive’s help.”

But another analyst tells Fox News, while Cain’s support might not generate votes in Florida, it helps Gingrich’s message.

Shane D’Aprile: “But I think what’s important there is that the Gingrich campaign is taking that and using it to further the anti-establishment narrative -- that right now, Newt Gingrich is fighting against a Republican establishment.”

Finally, ABC points out Cain and Gingrich are no strangers -- Cain even hinted at a Cain/Gingrich ticket back when he was leading the polls.

“Gingrich and Cain also have a past that dates back 16 years in Washington. … In 1995, when Gingrich was pushing the ‘Contract With America,’ they stood together on the welfare reform issue and even made a joint speaking engagement.”

As of Sunday morning, polls show Romney leading Gingrich in Florida by at least 10 percent.