A national tea party group on Wednesday endorsed Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan, with tea party favorite Joe Miller appearing in a new radio commercial on Sullivan's behalf.
In a press release, Tea Party Express executive director Taylor Budowich was quoted as saying that Sullivan has "made a career out of fighting for Alaska."
The release also includes supportive comments from local talk radio host Eddie Burke.
In the commercial, Miller -- whose campaign committee was recently paid $35,000 for sign materials by Sullivan's campaign -- attacks Sullivan's opponent, Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, on issues like health care and energy.
"It's still a priority for me to rid the Senate of Obama's liberal allies like Sen. Mark Begich," Miller says.
A spokesman for Begich said in an emailed statement: "Dan Sullivan's refusal to denounce government spying and the Patriot Act seem to put him firmly at odds with Joe Miller."
The commercial is backed by $36,000 in spending.