Ron Paul endorses Paul Broun in Georgia Senate race

“Paul Broun and I worked together in the House to bring some necessary oversight to the Federal Reserve,” Paul said in a statement provided by Broun’s campaign. “I endorse Paul Broun on his candidacy to the U.S. Senate.”

Broun has taken up Paul’s longstanding push to audit the federal reserve, and has a history of voting against his own party’s bills from the right. Paul’s endorsement will likely give him a boost with libertarian-leaning voters, though Georgia isn’t known as a libertarian hotbed, and will help him expand beyond his Tea Party base in the state.

{mosads}The candidate called Paul a “longtime friend” and said he was “honored” by the endorsement.

“When I first came to Congress in 2007, Dr. Paul and I were the two most consistent and outspoken constitutional conservatives serving in Washington,” he said in a statement. “As Dr. Paul knows, it’s often a lonely fight when you’re one of the few Members in Congress with the courage and principles to say no to the out-of-control spending being done by both political parties.”

Broun is running to replace retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) in a race that will likely have a crowded primary field. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) is also in the race, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) is expected to jump in soon, and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) may also run. Businessman David Perdue (R), the cousin of former Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), is also considering a race. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) hasn’t said if he’ll run or not, though most Georgia Republicans don’t expect him to.