Washington » Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey endorsed Senate GOP candidate Mike Lee on Thursday, slamming incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, as simply wrong on conservative issues.
Armey, who announced he is backing Lee at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, said the former general counsel to then-Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has the depth of understanding and is spot-on with key issues that Armey's Freedomworks political action committee -- an umbrella for Tea Party groups -- wants to see in Congress.
But Armey had choice words for Bennett.
"Senator Bennett has consistently and indeed enthusiastically taken the wrong position on very serious public policy issues," Armey said in an interview. "When you look at the very high degree of small government [attitude and] patriotism so routine among the people of Utah, I would say Utah should have better service."
Bennett's campaign downplayed the Texas Republican's endorsement of Lee.
"The decision about who should be Utah's senator is one that Utahns will make on their own," Bennett said through his son and campaign spokesman, Jim Bennett. "I am gratified that my endorsements have come from Utah leaders, mayors and county commissioners who are closest to the citizens."
Armey's endorsement butts up against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's support of Bennett, but Armey said the two former House leaders have divergent views sometimes.
"Newt Gingrich and I have disagreed on many occasions," Armey said.
Lee, who joined Armey at the conservative conference for the announcement, said the endorsement would help build momentum for his campaign against the three-term Utah senator and he's glad to be tied with FreedomWorks, which is considered part of the so-called Tea Party movement.
"This will help draw attention to the fact that what I am doing as a candidate, what I stand for as a candidate, and what I plan to do as a U.S. senator," Lee said, "is hand in glove with what the Tea Party movement stands for."
FreedomWorks does not donate to candidates, but PAC managing director Max Pappas says the group will funnel money to boost grass-roots support in Utah.
The group was instrumental in the election of Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts, recruiting organizers from around the country after recognizing early that an upset victory in the Democratic stronghold could block health care reform in Congress. and recruiting organizers from around the country.
Bennett has lined up several other key endorsements in the race, including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former White House senior adviser Karl Rove. He also has the support of Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Rob Bishop.
