This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Washington-based group FreedomWorks endorsed Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love in Utah's 4th Congressional District race, and former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist in his challenge to U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.
The question remains, however, how much the endorsements would help either candidate.
A poll released earlier this month — admittedly by Hatch's campaign, which has no love for FreedomWorks, so take it with a huge grain of salt — found that the group's approval rating was 16 percent in the state.
Still, the organization spent nearly $800,000 trying to beat Hatch at convention and infused about $50,000 into efforts to beat Love's 4th District opponent, U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, in 2010.
"Mia Love is the real deal for conservatives," said Russ Walker, National Political Director for FreedomWorks for America. "She recognizes that government is part of the problem, not the solution, to our current economic woes."
The group targeted Matheson's votes for the stimulus bill, the re-authorization of the Childrens Health Insurance Program, and against a House bill to repeal the federal health reform.
The group hailed Love for participating in the Tea Party Debt Commission and creation of the Tea Party Budget, which proposed cutting nearly $1 trillion a year.
The group praised Liljenquist as "an energetic fiscal conservative who will take a leading role in spending cuts and the repeal of ObamaCare from day one."
"He will be a great addition to support fellow Utah Senator Mike Lee expanding the conservative coalition in the Senate," Walker said.
It highlighted his work on reforming Utah's pension system and said he was a contrast to Hatch, who supported SCHIP, creation of the Department of Education, and voted for the Toxic Asset Relief Program.
FreedomWorks said it would support both candidates with an aggressive Get-Out-The-Vote effort, phone banking and yard signs.
— Robert GehrkeTwitter: @RobertGehrke