A Washington-based conservative group is choosing sides in a developing member-versus-member House primary in Louisiana.

The Citizens United Political Victory Fund sent $5,000 to freshman Republican Jeff Landry on Tuesday to boost his potential bid against four-term Rep. Charles Boustany.

“It is imperative that Congressman Jeff Landry remain in Congress to fight for the conservative cause,” said Citizens United President David Bossie. “CUPVF urges Congressman Landry to take this primary challenge head-on and campaign on his reform-minded conservative credentials.”

Redistricting has placed the two congressmen, who have very different profiles, in the same 3rd Congressional District.

Landry, a tea party favorite who this fall compared the Interior Department to the Gestapo, lost his southeastern Louisiana district due to reapportionment. Boustany, who is closer to establishment Republicans, including Speaker John Boehner, was accused by fellow Republicans of working with Democratic legislators to engineer a map more favorable to him.

This is the first intraparty scuffle in which Citizens United has intervened, and the group appears to be trying to persuade Landry to move forward with a run.

“Congressman Landry has taken bold stances by voting against the failed supercommittee, and for signing a letter with 71 of his fellow conservative colleagues that said no to any tax increases. At a time of great economic crisis, Congressman Landry has shown he will put principle above party politics,” Bossie said.

After the supercommittee’s failure, Landry took a direct shot at Boustany, saying he lacked “the guts and spine” to vocally oppose the endeavor when it congealed this summer.

Landry bested Boustany in third-quarter fundraising, $251,000 to $218,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings. But Boustany continues to hold a considerable cash-on-hand lead, holding $1.1 million compared with Landry’s $402,000.

via Citizens United goes all in for Landry.