Former Alaska Gov. and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is tweeting her support for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Clint Didier.
The former Washington Redskins player has mostly been under the radar as many continue to wonder whether two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi will get into the race. Didier, now a farmer in Pasco, has received tea party support from Eastern Washington.
On Thursday, Palin encouraged her Twitter followers to go to Didier’s campaign website “to be inspired by (a) patriot running for U.S. Senate to serve his state &our country for all the right reasons! Go No. 86.”
Didier’s jersey number was 86 when he played as tight end for the Redskins in the 1980s.
He hopes to advance through August’s top-two primary and challenge Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in November.
Didier was in the news earlier this week when the Seattle Times reported the candidate, who is campaigning against big government, accepted nearly $273,000 in farm subsidies since 1995. The figure comes from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit critical of the programs.
Didier disputed the amount Monday and said it was no more than $140,000. He said that farmers have to participate or be at a competitive disadvantage.
“If your neighbor has an advantage, he is in the position to buy the next farm up for sale,” he said.
Didier’s 1,000-acre farm received price supports for wheat, corn and barley, reimbursement for crops destroyed by hail, and conservation subsidies to replace steel irrigation pipes with plastic.
Didier said he would have the government get out of the agriculture market.
“Let’s get rid of the farm bill. Let’s get rid of all of it,” he said.
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