The Tea Party Express has thrown its support behind Col. Rob Maness, the conservative Senate-hopeful running against longtime Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) for her vulnerable Senate seat this November.

Tea Party Express Executive Director Taylor Budowich said the largest Tea Party PAC is getting behind Maness because of career politicians, he said, have contributed to the “out-of-control spending and crippling regulations” that are damaging the country as a whole.

“The beltway’s do-it-tomorrow mentality isn’t working and it’s time for an outsider like Rob Maness to go shake things up.

Budowich compared Maness to the more libertarian/outsider-wing of Republicans in the Senate, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Mike Lee ( R-UT), saying that “When he gets to Washington, D.C. he will pave his own trail and do what’s best for the people of Louisiana, not party bosses or special interests.” 

Maness said his campaign is about liberty and moving the career politicians, calling out Republican opponent Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who is considered by insiders as the likely Senate candidate that will take out Landrieu, out of Washington along with their lobbyist and business executive pals.

“In this race, I’m the only non-politician running, and my opponents are not just Mary Landrieu and Bill Cassidy, but the status quo in general,” said Maness.  “I oppose anyone in the political establishment who thinks bureaucrats in Washington know better than fishermen in Lafourche Parish how to harvest red snapper, executives in the Department of Education in Washington know better than parents and teachers in West Monroe know how to educate our children, administrators in the VA know how to care for our veterans better than doctors and nurses in Acadiana, or that the EPA knows better how to produce energy and transport fuels safely than people in places like Houma and Cameron.”

Maness, has long portrayed himself as the “non-political,” non-Washington, outside-the-beltway conservative that is needed after Landrieu’s over a decade tenure in the Senate. Most recently, he was given a major endorsement by conservative leader and former Gov. Sarah Palin, with the Alaskan calling Maness “a true conservative – opposing amnesty, pledging to protect our Second Amendment rights, and promising to defund Obamacare.”

“Rob is the admitted underdog in this race,” said Palin when she endorsed Maness. “Having spent his career in uniform, he does not have deep pockets or lobbyist connections to fund his campaign. To me, it’s a blessing, not a curse that he’s not held office before. After all, our founders weren’t politicians – many of them in fact were military leaders. Maybe it’s time we got back to those roots.”

Maness has made it a point throughout his campaign to align himself outside of the Washington establishment. He has also made it clear that he believes Cassidy is not a conservative who agrees too often with Landrieu, whom Maness calls a liberal.

Just recently, when the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) decided to create a fundraising group to funnel money to Cassidy’s campaign, Maness somewhat mocked the move by sending Cassidy a Washington Redskins hat with a note that read “Bill – congrats on becoming DC’s official candidate. Thought this hat might come in handy. Happy to take any Saints or Tigers gear off your hands. See you at the debates! – Rob”

Maness said the endorsement was indicative that Cassidy is the GOP establishment’s candidate and that Cassidy’s “time pressing the flesh in Washington has paid off.”

This story was modified to correct a misinterpretation that stated that the NRSC had “endorsed” Cassidy. The NRSC has not endorsed any candidate in the Louisiana Senate race.