Well, I dunno.
The Des Moines Register has historically been a pretty significant newspaper, its influence far outspreading its subscribers.
That happens; there's newspapers in small places that wield great influence; think of the Emporia Gazette of past days.
This is the first time since 1972 the newspaper's endorsed the Republican candidate for president--they even endorsed Walter Mundane in 1984, for God's sake.
So this defection is important.