RedState founder endorses Handel in Ga.

Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) has won the endorsement of RedState founder Erick Erickson, giving her Senate race a boost with Tea Party activists.

Erickson, a Georgia native, backed Handel against a crowded GOP primary field. 

{mosads}”I’m proud to support Karen Handel. She has a compelling life story. She is a pro-life conservative. She has won the state of Georgia before — something Michelle Nunn has not done. She is a friend. And she’ll be an improvement in that Senate seat,” Erickson writes on RedState, an influential conservative website.

Handel has shown momentum in recent weeks, picking up an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and capitalizing on one of her opponents’ gaffes for positive media coverage. She has far less money than some of her rivals, but seems to be faring well ahead of the May 20 primary.

Erickson’s endorsement could help her with the ideological base in the state. He said he’d been debating between Handel and Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) in the endorsement process.

Polls show a tight five-way race, though most have found Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and businessman David Perdue (R) ahead of Handel, Broun and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.).