The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has thrown its support behind Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) who is running against incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) in a highly contested senatorial race this November.

A fundraising group was set up by the NRSC to support Cassidy, though he is not the only Republican challenging Landrieu. Col. Rob Maness, who portrays himself as the non-politician and conservative in the race is also running. And, long-shot candidate State Sen. Paul Hollis (R-Covington) is eyeing the seat.

As reported by LaPolitics in March, there’s already a push underway by members of the Republican State Central Committee to give Cassidy the endorsement and possibly a separate drive amongst party leaders. “It turns out the NRSC is not even bothering to wait,” says a source, adding it’s a way to “haul in national money.”

And with a likely GOP endorsment in sight, Cassidy’s NRSC fund will collect contributions, help pay for expenses and then send the net profit to the Cassidy for Senate Campaign.

Maness, who most recently got a major endorsement from former Gov. Sarah Palin, said he is not surprised at all that the NRSC is backing Cassidy, calling it a “DC-lobbyist-funded” group.

“My campaign has always been against the status quo—news of the DC-lobbyist-funded NRSC backing Cassidy thrills me,” Maness says. “I’ve visited all 64 parishes in Louisiana, putting 50,000 miles on my Ford F-150, and I will take the votes of citizens concerned about their country and their children’s future over the money and strings that come with the DC lobbyist support any day.”